Global Formula Racing competed at their first European competition, placing 15th out of 79 teams at the Formula Student UK competition in Silverstone. As the only team with a full aero package at the competition, GFR was turning heads and carrying high hopes for a good finish.
The team started the beginning of the week strong, placing fourth in cost, ninth in acceleration, and eighth in skidpad. With these top ten results the team was looking forward to placing well at competition, but ended up on a rocky road. After placing 15th in business presentation, the same presentation that earned GFR third at Michigan, and then placing 10th in design the team was a bit shocked. This was the first time they had been out of the top two for design in eight competitions.
Despite this, the only aero car at competition had two events left to boost their score; autocross and endurance. The car roared through autocross, putting down impressive times of 58.890 and 56.830 seconds. As the team was trying to get our second driver onto the track we were quickly running out of time. The announcers exclaimed shortly after this, “Not sure what the point of GFR having another run [. . .] because they are so far in the lead, they are unassailable.” Despite not being able to complete all four runs, our second time earned the team 1st place and a 2.4 second gap to second place. This sort of advantage was nearly unheard of.
After competing so well at autocross the team was looking forward to Sunday’s endurance runs. Since they were the fastest in autocross they were going to be running last out of those who competed in Autocross, however this time there was a high chance of rain. The forecast did not disappoint either. The team watched as clouds brewed throughout the day, switching between pouring rain and sunshine that quickly dried the track out. With the varied conditions, the team was apprehensive of what sort of conditions they would be granted.
Finally as it was time for the GFR car to take the track there was water covering on the track, but you wouldn’t have known that from the impressive times put down by the car. As the fourth car out on the track, the team was trailing impressive competition such as TU Munich, University of Bath, and Chalmers University of Technology. Before the first driver change GFR had passed each of them, and was looking to have a quick endurance time. The intercom blared that we were about 3 seconds faster than TU Munich, our next fastest competition. The car with wings was flying.
As the car came in for the driver change, GFR’s hopes for a good endurance disappeared. The battery was dead, and unable to restart to finish the last half. Something simple like this provided a strong reminder to the team about double-checking everything before going out on the track.
Now with FSUK behind them, Global Formula Racing looks towards FS Austria and FS Germany during the next couple weeks. The combustion car will not be alone for these competitions though, being joined by its electric counterpart. The team has high hopes for these competitions, and hopes to defend their reputation.
To view the Formula Student United Kingdom results go here. To watch the team compete in autocross go here.
