Glasgow Caledonian team impresses at Formula Student 2024

Glasgow Caledonian University once again showcased its talent at the Formula Student event, held at Silverstone Circuit on Saturday, July 20, and Sunday, July 21.

The event, organised by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), brings together university teams from around the world to design, build, test, and race single-seater cars, fostering innovation and practical skills in automotive engineering.

Glasgow Caledonian’s Formula Student team comprised 60 dedicated members from all three of the University’s academic schools, though only 25 made the journey to Silverstone for the competition.

The team set ambitious goals for this year's competition. Following the strides made on debut last year, when the team finished 54th out of 63 participants, the primary objective for 2024 was to successfully pass the scrutineering process and advance to the static tests. They achieved this and more, finishing 48th overall, six places higher than last year.

The team’s technical director, TJ Scott, a Computer-Aided Mechanical Engineering student, said: "We've dedicated immense effort to make our car exceptional. This year's model showcases the team's commitment and creativity, being constructed entirely from the ground up. Featuring a new chassis and a thoroughly redesigned structure, the vehicle represents countless hours of planning, engineering, and testing. Starting from scratch enabled us to incorporate several new design elements and innovations, and we're confident these changes have significantly influenced our performance in the competition."

The team's hard work paid off as they saw improvements across various categories. In the ‘Cost’ category, the team finished 41st, up 16 places from last year. In the ‘Design’ category, despite being penalised for having an unfinished car, the team finished 48th, up four places. In the ‘Business Plan’ category, they finished 40th, up four places from the previous year.

Formula Student is divided into several static and dynamic events, each testing different aspects of the car’s performance and the team’s engineering capabilities. Static events include design presentation, cost and manufacturing analysis, and a business presentation where teams pitch their car’s market potential. Dynamic events, which Glasgow Caledonian did not compete in this year, cover acceleration, skid pad, autocross, endurance, and efficiency, evaluating the car's speed, handling, and durability.

TJ said: “Teams with much bigger budgets than ours stopped by to compliment our car and the work ethic we had put in to design our own custom pedal box and oil sump. In turn, we learned so much from those who had been competing at this event over a much longer period of time.”

Additionally, the team had the opportunity to network with industry professionals during the event, which led to offers of job interviews, further enhancing the practical benefits of participation.

At last year’s competition, TJ secured a coveted graduate position in Mercedes F1’s engine department, which he starts in September this year. He was one of only four students to be approached for the position out of the hundreds who took part worldwide.