Scots’speed
Formula Student is Europe’s most established educational engineering competition, arguably producing the most well-rounded engineers for the motorsport industry with a format that inspires the students involved to innovate in their fight to reach the top step of the podium.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the associated travel restrictions, the 2020 live event at Silverstone, scheduled to take place 22-26 July, was cancelled. Instead, teams competed in a virtual event held online, showcasing their Formula Student project efforts in a digital format. The acceleration and skid-pad events were replaced by lap-time simulations using a multi-body dynamics model and recreations of the courses used at Silverstone. Secondly, online multiplayer competitive simulation races in Assetto Corsa tested the skills of the drivers. With restrictions lifted this year, 21-25 July saw 31 Formula Student teams return to Silverstone to once again put their efforts to the test in real competition.
This year, the University of Glasgow team, UGRacing, posted its best ever result with an eighth-place overall finish, while it also retook the Scottish Formula Student crown. It also won the Engineering Design event for 1st Year Vehicles and the Racecar Engineering Engagement, Outreach and Communications Award. In recognition of the latter achievement UGRacing’s 2021 entry, the UGR20, is reviewed in these pages.
‘The aero, engine development, suspension and packaging all play a role in the increased performance’
Fraser Cowie, team principal UG Racing
Evolution
The 2019 Formula Student competition was pivotal for the University
