Preparing for FSUK 2025 with RS: University of Plymouth Racing
Overview
Here at UoPR, we have just completed our first full year in the Formula Student UK (FSUK) competition. Founded in late 2022, the team has faced many challenges and has worked extremely hard towards concept class to improve upon our 2023 score. As 2025 approaches, UoPR now aims to build our first internal combustion engined vehicle.
We plan to focus on simplicity, safety and regulation compliance in order to pass the rigorous scrutineering. This will hopefully allow the team to compete in every dynamic event at the competition and will be a great starting point to improve upon in the future. This article will go into the process of car development, team dynamics, lessons learnt, and the beneficial role RS played in our development this year.
Car Development and Testing
When researching suspension and compiling our own formulas; our dynamics head pioneered development of their own excel tools to calculate roll centre, incident centre, kingpin angle and other vital elements of suspension design. This tool was vital to developing a variable suspension geometry.
The chassis was initially designed around the aforementioned geometry in the early stages of development. However due to weight concerns, it was redesigned, entailing an extensive suspension rework.
By using software such as Microsoft Excel to parametrically design the vehicle using complex calculations, and SolidWorks to turn these ideas into a manipulatable 3D CAD model, the car could be brought to life.
Production methods were researched, with in-house manufactured components to be paired with specialist, externally sourced pieces. Our RS Grassroots Build Fund was used to source tools and safety equipment to prepare for the start of our manufacture.
Our Powertrain department has acquired an engine this year, which will be fundamental in developing practical skills and hands-on experience throughout the team. This will benefit our team by giving members a chance to take the engine apart and understand its workings, allowing us to create better designs in the future.
This year was a brilliant learning experience for us as a developing team. We’ve learnt about managing our research & development process along with exploring which tools would best benefit our vehicle’s production, allowing us to optimise how we use our time. We are incredibly grateful to RS and the Build Fund, which has allowed us to acquire our first set of equipment for the team. We’ll be using this opportunity to grow and improve our team’s development process, and construction vision.
Team dynamics
UoPR is composed of brilliant and hardworking students that come from diverse fields of study such as Engineering, Media, Business, and Psychology from the foundation level to graduating year. This means that our team has a wide variety of skills, experience, and interests, promoting greater problem solving and collaboration. Furthermore, with UoPR almost being a brand new team at the competition and with it being the first team the university has ever had, the natural struggles that came with starting a team were eased by the members themselves having an amazing spirit and dedication.
One of our core values within UoPR that we are very proud of is our policy that no one member of the team is more important than anyone else, everyone is equal and we are all here for the same reason. We love racing. This is something that we feel is fundamental to our team dynamics and the inclusion of anyone with an interest is something that we pride ourselves on. With the team also being a society within the university we regularly have first-year students who join the team looking for a community with a passion for racing and engineering. Being able to offer that to them with the benefit of helping their future careers is another part of the team dynamics that we feel is paramount.
Lessons learnt from the previous year or current
This year, we planned to enter Formula Student class with a functioning car. The primary focus was therefore the car’s design and manufacturing routes for parts.
Unfortunately, due to limitations such as a lack of a workspace and low budget, the team had to revert to Concept Class halfway through the academic year. With this abrupt change of plans, the importance of static events was overlooked. Our goal is to complete these thoroughly and early next year.
Next year, we aim to enter Formula Student class and build a car capable of completing every dynamic event, while attaining significantly higher finishes in our static events too. With a newly secured workspace, tools from RS, and an increase in fundraising activities and outreach to companies, we hope to have everything we need to manufacture a working vehicle and show FSUK2025 what we've got!
Media
Below are some behind-the-scenes photos from throughout the year; in meetings, design sessions and a sneak peak at our engine!
Conclusion
Throughout the 2024 season, UoPR has shown the desire & passion for constant improvement, fostering a strong team spirit, and understanding what it takes to raise a motorsport team from the ground up. We are incredibly thrilled to be able to be a part of FSUK, and to have the opportunity to do something like this. We are eternally grateful for the help & support received from RS Grassroots and are determined to return next year stronger than ever. FSUK2025, see you all at the track!
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