Unveiling of a New Racing Single-Seater
The ESTACA Formula Team (EFT) association has unveiled its new single-seater racing car, which will compete in Formula Student 2024. Students presented all the technological and mechanical advances developed this year to improve their performance.
Formula Student, a demanding student automobile competition
The Formula Student competition, created in the USA in 1981, now exists all over the world, captivating enthusiasts of engineering, innovation and motoring. The objective of the challenge is to design, manufacture and race an innovative, high-performance and energy-efficient single-seater, inspired by professional Formula 1 cars. The cars compete in a number of races, during which a jury of professionals from the automotive sector rate the vehicles in static (industrial feasibility, financial, etc.) and dynamic (racing) tests. The Student Formula challenge enables student engineers to apply their theoretical training in a fun and professional setting.
Students in the ESTACA Formula Student association aim to design and build the most efficient single-seater car possible. Teams draw on their expertise in a wide range of fields, including aerodynamics, mechanics, engines and electronics…
New, lighter vehicle with improved aerodynamic support
The EC-04 took the ESTACA team two years to complete, with over 50 students involved each year. For the 2023 season, the EC-04 achieved the best performance of any vehicle ever designed by EFT. In view of its success, EFT decided to keep this vehicle, improving its weakest points for the 2023 competitions.
This year’s single-seater, EC-04 EVO, features 3,000 new components and almost 700 new parts. The EC-04 chassis has been modified, with better torsional rigidity to improve the vehicle’s behavior on the track. The pedals, dashboard and steering wheel have also been modified: the pedals are now adjustable to suit different drivers. There are more aerodynamic kits which feature new profiles for greater aerodynamic support.
Significant work has been done on materials to lighten the overall weight of the vehicle. Many components have been remade using carbon composite materials, including the steering wheel, pedals and new aerodynamic kits. Lighter weight obviously improves the car’s performance.
A real engineering approach: simulations and tests before applying technological innovations
Students were able to conduct numerous simulations and tests this year, as the vehicle already existed. For example, the aerodynamic kits were improved following tests carried out during a day spent in a partner’s wind tunnel. Students also built a torsion bench to carry out tests before making modifications to the chassis. The EC-04 had a problem with the engine cooling too slowly. Thanks to the support of ESTACA’s research laboratory, ESTACA’Lab, students were able to carry out tests to find the best way of installing a new cooling system. Finally, numerical simulations were used to improve the use of tires to their full potential. The car’s suspension was lightened, with optimized geometry.
Today, the team is qualified for 9 competitions in 2024 and has decided to take part in 2 of them: FS Spain (in Spain) and FS Alpe Adria (in Croatia).
Good luck to them in the competitions!
