RIT Formula Racecar impresses competition at two international meets

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All teams lined up prior to the static and dynamic events at SAE Student Germany. The RIT team competed in two international meets this year and placed in the top-10 in both.

RIT Formula Racing’s highest event placements in the 2011 season came in autocross and acceleration, the two events where speed is essential. Adding strong placements in the other dynamic events gave the RIT team top-10 finishes at each of its international competitions in Austria and Germany this summer.

In its most recent event, Formula Student Germany, RIT placed fifth overall among 78 cars from Europe, Canada, India and the U.S. In separate events, the team placed in the top four in endurance, autocross and skidpad and won the acceleration event.

While in Austria in late July, the team placed eighth in cost and presentation. In the dynamic events the team placed second in autocross and seventh in both skidpad and acceleration. They were ninth overall among 32 teams.

“We decided to participate in two international events because we feel it gives RIT better exposure and gives us a more meaningful experience,” says RIT Formula SAE Team Manager John Scanlon. “Not only do we learn about European culture, but we consistently prove that an American engineering school can play on the same field as the best-of-the-best in Europe. The success of our team combined with our international exposure has also been an extraordinary advantage to our members when searching for employment.”

RIT Formula Racing opened its season in May at Michigan International Raceway and placed 21st among 121 teams after a mechanical failure took them out of serious contention for a top-3 finish. However, the team was a design event finalist in the competition, says Scanlon, an honor only awarded to the best-engineered cars. In October, the group will participate in the annual Toronto Shootout, an invitational meet organized by the University of Toronto at Mosport International Raceway.

In the SAE Student Germany competition, RIT Formula Racing took fifth place overall among 78 cars from colleges and universities across Europe, Canada, India and the U.S. Submitted