200 guests witnessed the presentation of the Mainfranken Racing Team's third racing car at FAG’s premises in Schweinfurt for the international Formula Student competition. The mechanical engineering faculty of the Wurzburg-Schweinfurt University of Applied Sciences and a team made up of 34 members is behind the Mainfranken Racing Team that is working on the MFThree project (the name of the compact racing car). “The Mainfranken Racing Team is only one of several university teams that we are happy to support”, says Karin Goerl from Schaeffler’s HR marketing department. “The students gain experience in both practical technical and management aspects of the project in a competitive and highly emotional environment which therefore makes a lasting impression on them. Formula Student also offers us an exceptional means for maintaining contact with universities year after year”. The Schaeffler Group is sponsoring a total of ten university teams. A further 15 teams are being supplied with material from Schaeffler’s comprehensive range of products. “Along with networking with potential future colleagues”, says Karin Goerl, “these prospective engineers gain experience with handling our products”.
And this has been the case since the 2001 season. That’s when the Schaeffler brand LuK began supporting this successful project for new generations of engineers. The sponsoring activities of all brands were combined under the Schaeffler Group brand in 2006. 2006 is also the first year the German version of Formula Student took place. The Formula Student competition began in 1981 in the USA and came to Europe via the UK in 1999. The design competition has now enjoyed success all over the world. “In Germany, there were over 200 applications for 78 starting places”, explains Johannes Arneth, project manager of the Mainfranken Team. “This means that the places allocated online were all gone within six to eight hours!”.
The 200-page rule book is identical for all competitions worldwide. The most important key data for the vehicle are: single seat car, an engine with maximum 610 cm³ capacity with a 20 mm air restrictor and a minimum wheel base of 1,525 millimeters.
“The main focus of Formula Student is the project work”, explains Karin Goerl. "The teams must work together to generate ideas for the vehicle concept, development and implementation as well as for sponsoring, marketing, and the race itself. This means that Formula Student is more of an integral practical exercise for a team than a school for racing drivers.” Several parameters are included in the assessment of the teams’ performance. The static events include cost analysis, business plan and design. Acceleration, skidpan, autocross, fuel economy and endurance all play a role as far as the dynamic events are concerned.
The moment of truth will come for the German students at the beginning of August. The 78 teams of finalists will be competing against each other in Hockenheim from August 5 to 9. “This is a great opportunity for not only for us but also for other companies to talk to potential future employees”.
Other News:
Schaeffler Supports Formula Student University Project
SKF Continues to Reduce Cost Base and to Improve Manufacturing Structure
GGB Sets Pricing for Solid-polymer Line
NSK Delivers 12-Ton Slewing Bearing to Northern Ontario
Federal Cross of Merit for Bernd Gombert, Head of Mechatronics at the Schaeffler Group
MBE for Schaeffler Plant Director
NSK to Exhibit at 22nd Interphex Japan
RA Rodriguez Takes a Stand at DESi 2009
