Engineering students from the University of Aberdeen have used 3D printing technology to help design the race car that will compete in this year's Formula Student competition.
At a launch event held at the Sir Duncan Rice Library last night (Thursday), Team Aberdeen University Racing (TAU Racing) unveiled the car that will compete in the student motorsport event, which is held at Silverstone from July 20-23.
Every year, TAU Racing design and manufacture a single seat race car to compete in Formula Student, which is organised by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).
The team finished first in Scotland and eleventh in the UK in last year’s competition, and they are aiming for an even higher finish this year, having made a number of improvements to the car.
Among these is a new prototype wet sump, air box and oil sump, all of which have been designed with the aid of a 3D printer. In addition, the vehicle has been fitted with a new, more powerful engine.
Last night’s event gave students, staff and sponsors the chance to admire the vehicle that the team hope will help them improve on last year’s performance.
Tom Morrice, Project Manager at TAU Racing, said: “We were delighted to unveil our new car at last night’s launch event, and showcase some of the new technologies we have been able to use thanks to the support of our sponsors.
“This includes a new Triumph Daytona 675 engine that we’ve installed thanks to the support of our principal sponsors Nexen, and several design modifications which have used 3D printing technology provided by PlastiPrint 3D.
“We have spent many hours on the design and manufacture of this year’s car, and we are confident that it will help us achieve an even better finish in this year’s Formula Student competition.”