Corus provides further materials expertise for Formula Student Racing Teams
02 May 2006
Corus, the international metals company, is once again supporting some of Europe’s leading student race teams - the Universities of Birmingham, Delft and Warwick - in the 2006 International Formula Student programme.
Formula Student provides the next generation of automotive engineers, from leading universities across the world, with a valuable insight into the engineering and project management process of taking a racecar concept from design through manufacture and ultimately, to competition.
Corus Research Development and Technology (RD&T) in IJmuiden, Netherlands, will be co-sponsoring Delft University’s race team providing aluminium for the space frame, steel material for other components and offering their knowledge and expertise in metals technologies.
Commenting on the importance placed by Corus on supporting a number of Universities in this important competition, Nico Langerak, Department Manager Automotive Applications, Corus RD&T said: “We are giving students access to the latest material, technology and industry techniques to help them in the development stages of their entry into the Formula Student competition. As a major supplier to the European automotive industry, we feel it important to support these vehicle engineers of the future and we look forward to a successful 2006 campaign”.
For the eighth consecutive year Corus Engineering Steels Stockholders in the UK has supplied the University of Birmingham team with two grades of steel - a case hardening quality and a high tensile alloy - to produce a number of crucial driveline components including the differential and driveshaft for its single seater racecar. These high quality steels are the same materials commonly used by professional race teams.
Commenting on the valuable support provided by companies like Corus, Dan Kitchin, The University of Birmingham UBRacing team said: “All the cars in the competition are highly technical. Our racecar is no exception and features innovative weight saving measures coupled with high performance acceleration with impressive handling characteristics and all-round reliability. The specification and supply of the right kind of high quality steel has played a critical part in the racecars’ development and we are grateful to the support from Corus."
Chris Bishop, Area Sales Manager (Development) Corus Engineering Steels said: ““By providing the students with Corus Engineering Steels’ advanced materials and support, we are helping the students build a vehicle with the potential to compete at premier motorsport levels. The most rewarding aspect of being involved in the programme is that we are able to provide students with the materials for real ‘hands on’ engineering experience. This will prove invaluable to the students after graduation when they enter competitive industries, ultimately benefiting the whole of the automotive industry”.
Finally, Corus Automotive, which specialises in developing innovative vehicle engineering solutions using the latest thinking in materials and manufacturing technologies, is sponsoring the Warwick University’s Formula Student campaign. In addition to sponsorship, Corus Automotive engineer Ray Long has been providing guidance to the team as they construct a finite element model of the car which is being used to simulate the stiffness performance of its chassis.
The 2006 Formula Student competition will be launched at Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome proving ground near Leicester from 5 to 8 July where 80 teams from 18 countries will compete against each other.
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