The global competition, run by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, is the world’s largest student motorsport event and challenges student engineers to design, build and race a single seat racing car in one year.
The University of Stuttgart’s combustion engine team, Rennteam Stuttgart, won after impressive performances in the endurance challenge and the overall dynamic events. Second place went to Germany’s Karlsruhe University, Austria’s TU Graz came third, while the University of Bath were the top UK team in fourth place.
Joscha Haupt, the University of Stuttgart’s team leader, said: “We have worked really hard and are delighted to have come first. It’s very tough to compete against all the strong electric teams but we enjoy the challenge of competing with a combustion engine. We want to make sure that we continue to improve so we can come back even stronger next year.”
The cars were judged on their speed, acceleration, handling and endurance in a series of time-trial races, while the teams were tested on their design, costing and business presentation skills.
This year’s event was the biggest in its history with 156 teams made up of more than 2,000 students from 34 countries, including the first team from Sri Lanka.
“Congratulations to the University of Stuttgart. It’s been great to see an internal combustion car win again,” said Andrew Deakin, chairman of Formula Student. “The competition continues to improve every year and I look forward to welcoming all the teams back in 2017.”
