On 11 May, students from EEUM presented their first Formula Student vehicle. The 270kg electric single-seater was built over the course of the academic year and involved 60 partner organisations. The prototype launch event took place in the main auditorium of the Azurém campus in Guimarães, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the engineering process and the innovations that are the culmination of many hours of work.
The Formula Student UMinho team was founded in 2021 in Guimarães and brings together 70 students from 21 courses, including Electronics, Management, Computer Science, Materials and Mechanics. It made its debut in the European championship in 2023, immediately securing three podium finishes in Class 2 (virtual prototype), as well as in design and business plan categories. This year, it will have a real prototype to race in the national final (July, Castelo Branco) and at the iconic European race at Hockenheim (August, Germany). The demands are increasing, as the dynamic events include scoring for, for example, acceleration, autocross and endurance.
Over the past few months, the students have been building various parts of the racing car, including the chassis, suspension, axle, battery and steering wheel, whilst complex components such as the engine and wheel rims were purchased. Partner companies and organisations provided support in the form of materials, tools, workshop space and travel. Enhancing soft skills and fostering links with industry are, in fact, key objectives of this initiative, explains Nuno Costa, team leader of FSUMinho and a final-year Master’s student in Aerospace Engineering, praising the passion and dedication of everyone involved.
Formula Student is a motor racing competition in which the conception, design and manufacture of a Formula-type vehicle involves only higher education students. It began in 1978 in the USA and includes races at circuits such as Silverstone (England) and Fiat (Italy). The philosophy is to build the best cars and encourage innovative technological solutions, within a tight budget and under rules set by the International Automobile Federation.
News report RTP: https://www.rtp.pt/play/p16049/e928364/portugal-em-rede/1433210 (21m23s a 25m57s)
