The formula for success

The Monash Motorsport team has won the Australasia Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (F-SAE) Championships for the third year running, making them the only team in the world to achieve a hat-trick in this competition.

The team, comprised of over 50 engineering students from Monash University, placed first overall of the 23 university F-SAE teams from Australia, India, Japan and New Zealand who competed.

Natalie Ajay, Sponsorship and Media Coordinator of the team, said that to win the F-SAE for the third year running was an immense team effort.

“We worked tirelessly this year to have the best car possible. We are extremely proud of our success and so grateful for the support we have received,” Ms Ajay said.

“We could not have done this without the support of Monash, Monash Sport, the Mechanical Engineering Department and our sponsors. Thank you for giving us this opportunity to show the talent of young Australian engineers.”

All teams build their own car over a period of one year in order to complete in the F-SAE challenge. The idea behind the F-SAE challenge is for young students to gain experience working with a dedicated team in a meaningful project with a common goal – to create the most competitive and well designed car possible.

In addition to the development of the car, the team had to select and prepare a group of drivers, all Monash students, to compete in the big event held in Werribee.

The various driving tests include Skid Pan, Acceleration, Autocross and the Endurance Race. Static events were also held, where the car was judged on presentation, cost and design.

Monash Motorsport finished first in the Skid Pan category, which tests how quickly the vehicle can do a full circle in a figure eight motion, to push the car to its cornering limits. The cars unique aerodynamics package, developed in the full scale Monash Wind Tunnel, assisted them in this feat.

Monash also finished first in the cost and endurance categories. The endurance assessment is the ultimate test of the vehicles reliability and manufacture. The cars race to complete the 22 kilometres in the fastest possible time.

“We’re incredibly pleased with the team’s success. It was a fantastic result and reflects the astounding amount of work we’ve all put in,” Ms Ajay said.

The team would also like to thank its many industry sponsors, including Bosch, Coles Express, Shell Vpower, Laser 3D, Marand Precision, Monash Wind Tunnel, KTM, Monash University Department of Mechanical and Aerospace engineering, Monash University and Chisholm TAFE.

For further information visit the Monash Motorsport website.