FSG

Two weeks ago today, I was sitting outside the pits in Hockenheim in the pouring rain. Today, I am sitting outside my Mum’s house in the blistering sun, but even with the weather, it’s not much comparison really - sorry Mum! But after a long year of studying hard, “There’s no place like home”.

Formula Student Germany at Hockenheim was another mean feat for UH Racing’s 19th combustion team. Following such a great success at the UK competition, it was important for the team not to fall back on their laurels and to carry on working hard.

There were many aspects that I took part in whilst preparing for Hockenheim, one of which was vinyl wrapping the whole car. If you read my last blog about FSUK, then you’d know that Sam Collins, from Racecar Engineering, didn’t like the look of UH19 at Silverstone as he thought the car was plain. Apparently he still doesn’t think there’s enough orange, but all things in moderation, we don’t want the car to wind up looking like an Oompa Loompa! One of the other main parts I took part in leading up to competition was updating the Business Presentation to include some additional information required for Germany.

UH19's livery inspiration

UH19's Livery for FSG

The whole event got onto a good start with everything running smoothly and the team enjoying the opening ceremony after picking a good spot under a canopy of trees in the campsite. On Wednesday the team wound up 18th in the scrutineering que, after a very successful rules quiz completed back in the UK a few months previously. We passed every element of scrutineering first time, and by 5:30pm that evening we had completed scrutineering and being just the 5th team to do so.

UH Racing were the fifth team to pass Scrutineering

Since the team had no static events to compete in until Friday, Thursday was spent on some final preparation for the Business, Cost and Design events. Whilst also gathering a few freebies from the competition sponsors!

The Skid Pad at FSG is artificially wet

After a soaking wet night on the campsite where I had managed to pitch my ‘showerproof’ tent in the only area NOT protected by trees on what seemed like the whole campsite, and a small river running across my groundsheet; it was Friday. Which meant it was time for Skid Pad and Static events. Since the Skid Pad in Germany is artificially wet, the team took advantage of the wet conditions to get in some extra test time. At 8am the team were ready waiting outside the test area, ahead of the Skid Pad opening at 11:30am. The first two Skid Pad runs were put in by Jack, who got some excellent times on the board. But then it was my turn. When I came out of the right loop I completely lost my direction and could not see the entrance to the left loop. After being pushed back to the start by an official, my first run was classed as a DNF, I completed the second, but not with a great time, so well done to Jack for actually getting decent times on the board! I felt like I’d let the whole team down, a DNF was not what we needed, but half an hour later I was all dressed up and standing in the business presentation trying not to let it affect me. We received some great feedback from the business presentation, however it was gutting to us all when the comments we obtained did not entirely reflect the score we were given. Design and Cost events were run later on this afternoon, and I was surprised when I was asked by the rest of the team to go into the Cost event to discuss composites with the judges. Following the end of the Static events, professional photographs were taken of the team, including one or two silly pictures.

Joe: You've got something on your 'eel..... 'Ello Sailor!

On Friday night the team attended the first part of the FSG Awards Ceremony. After sitting through what felt like a lifetime of awards, which were presented to some of the best Universities at the competition; the award for the “Formula Student Combustion Best Prepared Car for Scrutineering” appeared up on the screen. None of the team wanted to say out loud that we thought we had a shot at winning this award in case we jinxed it, and when the presenters said “Car Number 20…..7!” the whole team stood up and screamed. Not really understanding what had just happened we all ran up onto the stage to collect the trophy looking dazed and confused. We had less than half the team that everyone else did, we had no chant for celebrating awards, UH Racing haven’t won an award for a long time. IT WAS UTTERLY AMAZING. A massive shout out to all the guys who were in scrutineering on Wednesday and allowed it to run so smoothly.

WE WON AN AWARD!

On Saturday Hockenheim was obliterated with heat, with a high of 31C, we spent most of the day hunting for shade! The rest of the day ran pretty smoothly, with four good Acceleration runs, and four good Sprint runs. And a few free ice creams definitely helped!

Having a cheeky nap ahead of acceleration!

Sunday was Endurance day, and just like FSUK the teams run in order of their results for the Sprint event, with the fastest cars competing at the end of the afternoon. Despite some pre-conceptions of our engine holding out for the event, we finished, and not just that but we were the top UK team at the end of Endurance. The afternoon was spent taking many pictures with Liverpool, Oxford Brookes and Strathclyde universities, showing the best of the British teams (sad we couldn’t find the Brunel team when this was taking place). And finally the team packed the car away for one last time before getting on the beer.

The British teams of FSG (minus Brunel)

On Sunday night the whole team attended the FSG Mahle after party, which was a great way to let off steam after a long week away from home. The after party won’t just be memorable to me for the free beer, but also for the angry German woman who shouted at myself, Ryan and Dhillon for trying to run the Endurance track at about 11pm, and also for the amazing band who were playing some classic tunes.

Our first beers of competition on Sunday evening

Sadly, all great things must come to an end; as the completion FSG marked the end of UH19’s competition life. With so much love and dedication having gone into such a gem of a car, I can be happy to say that this is not the end of UH19’s life, and she will be back out testing very soon!

Driver Ryan says his goodbyes to UH19 back in Hatfield

UH Racing’s amazing results:

Cost: 52nd Position

Business: 34th Position

Design: 10th Position

Acceleration: 43rd Position

Skid-Pad: 16th Position

Sprint/Autocross: 42nd Position

Endurance: 15th Position

Efficiency: 9th Position

Overall: 14th Position

Award for: FSC Best Prepared Car for Scrutineering

Katie x

P.S.

If any of the UH19 team have read this far: Germany wasn’t a great time for me, I wasn’t in a great place emotionally and I know that clouded my judgement on numerous occasions. For everyone who was affected, I’m sorry, if I could go back and change that, then I would immediately. Thank you for everyone who was there for me. And again, I’m sorry.

#FSAE #FSG #UHRacing #Competition #Germany #Hockenheim #UH19