The prestigious Formula Student competition draws entries from every corner of the world to compete at Silverstone. Amongst those putting themselves on the line this year were Six Henkel-sponsored teams.
All six relied on the benefits of using a wide variety of LOCTITE products that included adhesives, retaining compounds, threadlockers, mould release agents, flange sealants and surface cleaners. The upshot was that the teams performed strongly, with five finishing in the top 30 placings from a total of 129 starters.
Some 4,000 students from 30 countries attended the 2018 Formula Student event, which is now the largest student engineering competition in the world. Of the Henkel-sponsored teams, the University of Birmingham finished 6th overall, while other placings included the University of Coventry on 14th, University of Bath 16th, University of Hertfordshire (UH Racing) 25th and University of Southampton 26th.
Formula Student challenges university teams to design, build and race a single-seater racing car in one year. The cars are then judged on their speed, acceleration and endurance, while the teams are tested on their design, costing and business presentation skills.
For the University of Hertfordshire UH Racing Team, which has been supported by Henkel since 1999, Formula Student 2018 proved a mixed bag. For instance, the team finished as high as 7th in the design category and 11th in the costing category, but, in the final event, endurance, a cruel twist of fate ended the team’s hopes for the overall top 10 finish anticipated.
The university says it “didn’t complete endurance following a sticky throttle” and that it was “absolutely heartbroken to end this way”. A year’s work scuppered in an instant, although 25th place overall remains highly credible. The issue with the throttle has since been diagnosed and rectified. On the upside, Formula One World Champion Jenson Button visited the team’s pits to chat about the car, which this year is in its 21st iteration.
Things did not quite go to plan for another Henkel-sponsored team, the University of Sunderland (Sun Racing). Despite an extremely tight budget, the team was hoping for a top 30 finish, but in the end had to settle for 51st. “An issue with an inertia switch brought the car to a stop in the endurance test and we were not allowed to reset and complete the event,” states frustrated automotive technician Paul Smith, who heads up the university’s team.
Things did prove better for Sun Racing, which took an 18-strong team to Silverstone, in the scrutineering (static events) category. Only 47 teams got through to compete and only 27 completed with a working car, of which Sun Racing was one.
Smith has high hopes for the next Formula Student event. “Next year, I think we will maintain much of the car, as we believe most elements are spot on – the car just didn’t get to prove itself.”
