Leeds Formula Race Team Newsletter

October Edition

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New Beginning for Leeds Formula Race Team

Leeds Formula Race Team (LFRT) is a group of enthusiastic and skilled Engineers from the University of Leeds, working towards a shared goal of producing a single seater race car to compete at a competition in July 2015 at Silverstone. The competition, run by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, involves over 150 teams from around the world competing against each other in both static and dynamic events. These involve a business presentation and cost report, alongside dynamic events to test the quality of the vehicle created. LFRT is the oldest Formula Student team in the UK, having competed for almost 20 years around the world. The rules dictate a vehicle must be designed and built from scratch every year, with evolution and innovation needed. Last year LFRT produced F15 which competed at the competition, but due to unforeseen circumstances failed to complete all the events. This year the team is split into 3 sub groups: Chassis & Suspension, Brakes & Driveline and Engine. Changes are happening throughout each group, with a new wheel size, new differential and brand new KTM 500 EXC engine for this season. This year promises to be a very exciting year for the team and we hope to achieve great things at the competition. The goal this year is compete in all the events at competition while finishing in the top 10 UK teams at the event at Silverstone.

Scott Walker, Team Leader

New Team Photo

As with every season, the new team has a new photo to show off, downloadable from our facebook page. With new team kit on the way later in the year look out for an updated photo

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Brakes & Driveline

The Brakes and Driveline team consist of 6 members charged with ensuring the efficient power transfer from the engine to the driveshafts and the design of custom callipers to be made and manufactured at the University of Leeds. As well as myself the team members are; Chris Dart (Vice team leader), Matt Harris, Sarosh Rehman, Annas abu-Hassan and Sotirios Tsioumas. All team members have been assigned a project of their choosing and together we hope to build a successful car for the coming season. The main aim for the team is to redevelop the tensioning mechanism of the differential and replace the Torsen system for the Limited slip differential from Drexler. This requires new driveshaft’s, differential mounts and wheel hubs to transfer the drive at the rear. In addition to the differential, the semi automatic gear system developed last year is to be improved to avoid power problems encountered with the alternator last year. In the braking department, the decision has been made to restart in house design and manufacture of brake callipers and rotors. This is something Leeds originally undertook before buying callipers from suppliers the last few years. A new material rotor is also being researched with the hopes of creating a lightweight intuitive design feature to the car. Combined with this is a cooling project ensuring the new material is not overheating and fracturing under braking. Finally, a new pedal assembly is imperative to the car.

Dominic Cotton, Brakes & Driveline Group Leader

Chassis & Suspension

Before starting my final year I completed a year in industry with a formula 1 team. This provided me with a great insight into the world of motor racing, where I learnt about designing for performance as well as efficient manufacture. I hope to bring this experience to the Formula Student team to ensure a more robust, reliable and performance driven car. The chassis will be a steel space frame structure, with its design being dictated by the suspension geometry with the aim of a handling focused car, unlike previous years where the suspension has been designed around the chassis. The group are investigating the performance benefits of aerodynamic devices on the car with a focus on front and rear wings and the aim of becoming the first Leeds University car to have them. Scott Walker,Haider Zaidi, John Mandroukas, Georgie Sims and Dom Smith are more than capable of designing a successful car for 2015.

Hägar Niblett, Chassis & Suspension Group Leader

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Following the F15 project, the F16 engine team’s main goal is to develop a more powerful and more reliable package. For the F16 iteration, we have upgraded the previous 450cc engine to the larger displacement 2015 engine(pictured) which incorporates more feedback and the potential for more power. We have also upgraded to a new motec ECU which now includes data logging capability. By using the F15 car as a test car we are able to independently develop the package before the new chassis is manufactured. We have a target power figure of 60BHP which we hope to achieve through extensively tuning the intake and side exit exhaust systems alongside thorough ECU mapping and engine control. We also plan to investigate the optimum radiator placement and orientation to achieve the best cooling. Looking to the future, we are conducting feasibility studies on a National Instruments MyRio ECU and looking into turbocharging the previous 450cc motor. As well as myself, our experienced team includes members who worked on last years iteration of the car. With the help of Graeme Ellis, Alex Koltsidopoulos, Patrick Meenan, Mike Scott and Mathew Richardson, we hope to achieve our targets for the coming year. So, with a lot of work ahead of us we are excited for what the next year has in store.

Tom Allchurch, Engine Group Leader

Engine

Thanks for your continued support

Leeds Formula Race Team

Mechanical Engineering

Woodhouse Lane

LS2 9JT

leedsformularaceteam@gmail.com

@leedsFSAE

/LeedsFormulaStudent