Formula SAE Team Takes Second Place in UK Competition

Rensselaer’s Formula SAE team drove its student-designed and built racecar to a second-place finish at Formula Student, a worldwide collegiate design and engineering competition held annually in the United Kingdom.

“This was truly a team effort,” said team member Dan Gurick ’05. “We wouldn’t be here today without the generosity of our institute and corporate sponsors, the guidance of our faculty adviser, Dr. Somerscales, and the countless nights and weekends put in by our team members.”

The students were able to overcome technical troubles encountered at Formula SAE, the national competition held in Pontiac, Mich., in May. With just over a month to go before Formula Student in the U.K., the team set its sights on making repairs, testing, and tuning.

For Formula SAE, students design, fabricate, and compete with small formula-style race cars. Restrictions are placed on the car frame and engine so the students’ knowledge, creativity, and imagination are tested. The vehicles are judged in three different categories: static inspection and engineering design, solo performance trails, and high-performance track endurance.
Thirty-eight universities from North America, Europe, and Asia competed in the event. Rensselaer was the only team representing the United States.

Traveling with the team to the U.K. were:
Chris Hand (Grad Mech E ’03) – Powertrain Group Leader ’02-’03
Chris Guidotti (Bio Med ’03) – Shop Manager ’03
Kyle Cronin (Comp Sci/IT ’03) – Webmaster/Office Manager ’03
Tyler Feralio (Mech E ’04) – Chassis Group Leader ’02-’03
Kevin Horbatt (Comp Sys ’04)
Dan Gurick (IT ’05) – Team Leader ’04

Additional Team Members:
Dominic Venieri (Mgmt ’04) – Team Leader ’02-’03
Steve Jaffe (Mech E ’05)
Pat DeGrosse (Mech E ’06) – Powertrain Group Leader ‘04
Jon Berg (Mech E ’06) – Chassis Group Leader ’04
Aaron Janicz (Comp Sci ’06) – Rules & Safety Manager ’04
Abbey Green (Bio Med ’03)