PolSl Racing ends the season with impressive results!
This year, the PolSl Racing team took part in two rounds of the competition – Formula Student Romania and Formula Student Poland. This competition requires not only reliable preparation of the car, but also commitment, dedication and incredible engineering and general knowledge. To achieve success, one needs to be prepared for every circumstance – and this is what the team from the Silesian University of Technology has achieved!
What is Formula Student?
Formula Student is an international competition where students from all over the world have the opportunity to present racing cars that they have designed, constructed, and tested in just one year! Teams have a chance to present themselves in 7 competitions – both static and dynamic. Static competitions are designed to present their way of thinking in the design and production of the car, and test business and marketing skills in the Business Plan Presentation competition, which gives the opportunity to showcase the soft skills of participants during the competition. Dynamic competitions, on the other hand, focus on showing the performance, endurance, and manoeuvrability of the cars, as well as the skills of the drivers and the strategic skills of the whole team.
PolSl Racing took 2nd place in the general classification of the EV class in Romania and 4th in Poland, at the same time taking the highest position of all Polish teams. Many factors contributed to this success, but above all it was the ambition and hard work of the team throughout the year.
What was the deciding factor in achieving such results?
Formula Student Romania is a competition that will remain in the memory of the team members for a long time. For the first time in the history of electric cars, PolSl Racing managed to complete all the dynamic competitions, while the team reached the peak of its capabilities and was very successful. 1st place in the Acceleration and Autocross competitions incredibly motivated the team to continue and have shown its true potential. In addition, the results from the static competition showed that as a team they are moving in the right direction due to incredible progress they made compared to last seasons.
Since this year Formula Student Poland has been awarded the status of the official round, recommended by Formula Student Germany, the rules of which most rounds in Europe are subject. With this in mind, after the success in Romania, PolSl Racing began the preparations with the same focus and determination. These efforts paid off, after extremely demanding technical inspections carried out by judges from the automotive industry, the PolSl Racing team joined all the competitions, at the same time, as one of the few competitors, passing technical inspections after the longest dynamic competition – Endurance. This resulted in achieving 4th place in both this competition and in the general classification. In addition, to win 3rd place in the Efficiency competition was an amazing achievement, which gave them the title of the most electrically efficient car of all Polish teams.
These successes give the whole team incredible pride and motivation to fight next year for more. This is also emphasized by the leader of the team, Dawid Domański.
- It was a huge effort of the whole team. We worked day and night, often spending our free time to refine every detail of our car. These results – second place overall in Romania, victories in Autocross and Endurance competitions, and third place in Efficiency – prove that determination, passion, and teamwork really bring results. We are also pleased that we took fourth place at the competition in Poland and at the same time we turned out to be the best Polish team. This shows that we are moving in the right direction and that together we can achieve more and more – explains Dawid.
In the role of a driver - what emotions and challenges accompany driving a Formula Student car?
When it comes to car and team, there is almost always one question – what is it like to be a driver of such a vehicle?
- The drivers of our car take on a huge responsibility – the car was designed and built as a unique construction, in which thousands of hours of work of the whole team have been put. Driving in competitions requires exceptional focus and high skill, as the car is characterized by high power at a very low weight. Therefore, in the winter we organize tests on karting tracks. They are attended by candidates for drivers, and the most active members of our scientific club are invited to participate – says Adrian Faber, vice-leader and one of the team’s drivers.
Being a driver is much more than just driving a car – it requires not only excellent technical skills, but also concentration, quick decision-making, and full commitment to the whole team. This season, our drivers showed extraordinary efficiency and endurance in difficult conditions, thanks to which every competition brought incredible emotions and satisfaction.
What do the preparations for the Formula Student competition involve?
The competition is the culmination of team’s work during the whole year. Preparing for the competition can be extremely laborious, which means devoting a large part of one’s free time to the team. These include not only vehicle development, but also many logistical and organizational challenges. Each component requires its own separate approach.
Szymon Stencel, the Chassis representative this season, mainly responsible for the stress calculations, pays special attention to a few issues.
- In order to prepare the car well for the competition, it was necessary to complete and prepare full technical documentation containing certificates and notes confirming the parameters of the materials used by us. Our participation in the competition was preceded by a period of car tests, thanks to which we could determine the period of wear of individual components of the vehicle and the rate at which subsystems enter their work window. It was a crucial period, because on its basis we knew what to expect while driving abroad and what potential problems we would face. Moreover, tests simulating participation in real competitions allowed for validation of analyses and calculations made during the period of vehicle design – says Szymon.
On the other hand, Mateusz Szulik, the leader of the Electrical component, spoke about the preparations involving electrical side.
- Preparation for the Formula Student competition was a complex and intensive process for the electrical team, requiring full commitment. Designing and installing the printed circuit boards, which are the basis of the car’s electronic systems, required extraordinary precision and attention to detail. Equally important was the creation of an electrical harness – from design to manual execution, each element had to meet the strict requirements of the regulations to guarantee reliability during the competition. We spent a lot of our work on component testing, which allowed us to make sure that all systems were working as intended. At the same time, we developed the control software, focusing on the optimization of the powertrain and batteries, which are crucial for the car’s energy efficiency. Each iteration of testing and calibration was a step toward improving our design. Third place in the Efficiency competition in Poland was a huge success for us, motivating us to further improve the drive system and batteries. The electrical team remains fully motivated to continue development and achieve further successes – says Mateusz.
Good preparation is the key to successful competitions. To achieve success, you need to be ready for anything and not be surprised during inspections and the competition themselves.
Season summary, new challenges of PolSl Racing
PolSl Racing has no intention of resting on its laurels, they are already working on the next car concept for next year. More on this subject in the statement of SKN PolSl Racing’s scientific supervisor, Professor Mirosław Szczepanik:
- SKN PolSl Racing is an incredible opportunity for our students to prove themselves during their studies as future engineers and to demonstrate creativity and put their ideas into practice. It is the essence of studying and memories that remain for life. The Formula Student competition is a test – how well you did your job. It is also an opportunity to test and demonstrate the ability to pass on your own technical thought and defend it against professionals from various engineering fields in the automotive industry. This season shows that the PolSl Racing Team is constantly developing, implementing, and striving for high standards. It’s amazing to look at the smiling faces of students and hear a cry of joy when the car crosses the finish line after running 22 km on the race track at maximum speed – then you forget about the hard work, the time, the preparation, the tiring route that a group of 30 people have to cover to reach the competition, etc. … the successes are building up for the whole team – they trigger new energy and new ideas to make things even better next season. Because we can - and so much more can still be done. We already have plans to introduce a new hybrid superstructure based on monocoque – we are already working and developing an appropriate layered composite (the project is carried out as part of the ministerial program – “Student Science Clubs Create Innovations”, developing even better suspension solutions, better aerodynamic package or drivetrain, better inverters, lighter battery, optimized BMS system, perhaps the introduction of a 4-wheel drive, etc. … It is amazing that there is still much to be done here as a young engineer / scientist. I am proud of the team, I am also pleased with the fact of acquiring new ministerial projects, projects within the scope of the Excellence Initiative – Research University program and new sponsors, including TAURON Polska Energia. We would like to thank the authorities of the Silesian University of Technology, in particular the Rector, Professor Marek Pawełczyk and the Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Education, Professor Anna Chrobok, who attach great importance to this type of projects. Soon, Recruits will join us – I believe that this year we will attract new automotive enthusiasts. We cordially invite you – come and build a new electric car with us in a great team atmosphere – let’s create and win together – concluded Prof. Mirosław Szczepanik.
