A team of north-east students are preparing to take pole position at one of the greatest race tracks in the world later this year.
The group from Aberdeen University will be competing in the International Formula Student competition at Silverstone in July, an annual challenge to build a single-seat formula car from scratch and race it around Silverstone.
It is the sixth year that the Aberdeen team – known as TAU Racing – have competed in the competition, which is considered Europe’s largest educational motorsport challenge and attracts more than 100 teams from across the globe every year.
Throughout the process, the students are provided with support and guidance from lecturers and energy companies, including main sponsor, independent energy consultancy ADIL.
This is the sixth consecutive year that the company has pledged its support as principal sponsor, and this year it is providing a greater level of mentoring and support, matching students up with their own engineers to teach them new skills.
Matt Huntington, general manager (technical) at ADIL, said the company’s long-term commitment to the project was not just about making sure the students come home winners, but about ensuring they are investing their employee’s knowledge and expertise in future generations of engineers.
The students not only have to put their technical skills to the test, but need to learn about teamwork, marketing, health and safety and people management – all prized skills that oil companies look for in new starts.
Huntington said the company’s increased support this year was essential to encourage more people into oil and gas and tackle the skills shortages which are currently affecting the industry.
“We are delighted to continue our support of the TAU Racing team for the sixth straight year.
“We feel it is important that we help the young people of today learn the vital skills that will set them up in good stead for a job after university,” he said.
“As an industry we have to create opportunities for aspiring engineers to gain relevant practical experience, particularly in the face of a growing skills shortage.” The team will be scrutinised by an expert panel of judges during the competition and be graded on car design, fuel economy, presentation and performance.
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