A group of Cape Peninsula University of Technology engineering students, dubbed CapeSpeed, has qualified to take part in the finals of the UK International Formula Student educational motorsport competition from 13-15 July and placed 65th out of 132 overall.
Formula Student is run by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers at the Silverstone Race Circuit and backed by the likes of Formula One technical guru Ross Brawn and other high-profile engineers. The competition challenges universities across the globe to design and build a single-seat racing car and compete in a variety of static and dynamic events.
Besides being the first team from Africa to qualify for the event since its inception in 1998, the team also impressed the powers that be with the finish of their car and being the team with the highest female representation.
The CapeSpeed car was put through its paces during a scrutineering test, which checked driver safety, vehicle weight, cockpit clearance and technical safety before moving on to the static (business presentation, costing, sustainability and design) and then the dynamic (acceleration, skid pan and speed tests) tests before the final endurance race – for which only 62 teams managed to qualify. CapeSpeed finished the race in 27th place.
”We were proud to have completed the race. Our strategy involved the drivers being cautious, rather than being fast, which could have lead to our participation coming to a premature end,” said CapeSpeed team captain, Kerwyn Lategan.
