UCD students show their bottle - and their throttle

While there's little chance of an indigenous motor industry in Ireland, we are able to bring forth top class motoring talent, thanks in part to the success of competitions such as the internationally recognised Formula Student.

At this year's competition the Irish entry from UCD's school of engineering won the Shell fuel-efficiency award, seeing off competitors from the US, Canada, Japan, and most of Europe.

A well-respected proving ground for young automotive talent, the competition is targeted at engineering schools. This year's event at the Bruntingthrope test track in Britain brought in a record 54 entries, each with a single-seater racer designed and built by students.

Over three days cars and teams are subjected to a wide-ranging appraisal by experts from the world's car and motor sport industries. Judges pore over every detail of design and construction, quizzing students on everything from mechanical design to cost analysis and sales potential.

But, according to programme director Dr William Smith of UCD's department of mechanical engineering who talks of "the smell of tortured rubber and high-octane fuel mingling with the wail of highly tuned engines spinning at over 12,000 rpm", it's on the track that the real test takes place.

"Students work furiously in a bid to wring every last ounce of performance from their car, aware that the slightest weakness may mean the difference between the agony of failure and the elation of success. Nowhere is this tension more evident than in the gruelling endurance event, where electrical failure, mechanical failure, driver error - even running out of fuel - are constant concerns."

Only six teams made it across the finishing line this year, among them the UCD students.

"There's so much that can go wrong," says Jessica Carroll, who led the engine development programme on this year's car. "The rules stipulate that we are not allowed to make any repairs whatsoever to the car during the endurance event. All we can do is watch, and hope that all our calculations work out."

Winning the Shell award was a huge boost for the team, says Jessica. "We were competing against some of the best teams in the world, teams with a lot more experience and many with a much bigger budget. For us, winning the efficiency award outright means that we are able to compete at the very top level."

The team's success is all the more remarkable given that they are relative newcomers to the competition, according to Dr Smith.

"The UCD Racing programme was founded only in 2000," he says. "This contrasts with the five to seven years of many European teams, and the 20-plus years notched up by several US universities."

Technology plays a large part in the effort. "The vehicle is designed on computer from the ground up using state-of-the-art 3D CAD software, the package used by Jordan Grand Prix to design its Formula One cars," says Sean Clancy, leader of the 2003 chassis and suspension teams.

Reducing vehicle weight is a key goal for Formula Student designers. The regulations limit engine size to 610 cc or less, so performance can't be obtained using horsepower alone. Moreover, the circuit on which the cars compete is narrow and very twisty, so the emphasis is on the cars' agility, braking and acceleration rather than its top speed.

"This year's car weighs 266 kg with fuel and fluids aboard," says Sean, "which isn't bad. In terms of power-to-weight ratio, it's equivalent to having a Ford Fiesta with 300 bhp under the bonnet. So it's fun to drive."

With slick tyres, a low centre of gravity and what the students call "a low polar moment", the car is very agile and will corner faster than any road-going Ferrari.

"Getting involved in the competition is one of the best decisions this department has ever made," says Dr Smith.

The progamme has had industry backing with Jordan Grand Prix as principal sponsor for the past three years, along with support from Bridgestone-Firestone Ireland, Frank Keane of Motor Import Ltd, Timoney Technology and Chad Mouldings.