News Archive

The UWA Motorsport team is already at full throttle this year, with enthusiasm fuelled by a daring state-of-the-art suspension system.

It was a heartbreaking end to last year for the dedicated students and supervisors when they had to withdraw from the final competition because their vehicle was not ready to race.

But they have started 2013 with great success.

Competing in the first Formula SAE-Australasia West competition in February, the UWA team won first place in three out of the four events: acceleration, autocross and endurance.

The team is on track for another tilt at national and international success this year, now that its inventive suspension has been approved by judges who were unsure about its legality.

Project Manager Matt Schrader said the team has developed renewed enthusiasm and excitement. "Reviewing 2012, we discovered critical organisational and communication components that affected the outcome," he said. "An additional challenge this year is in obtaining sufficient financial resources to achieve our goal.

"But this challenge means we have developed new skills and we are confident that we are now equipped to push ourselves to greater horizons."

The controversial suspension in the 2012 car was inspired by the Lotus T88 Formula 1 car, which was banned before it could race competitively.

"The concept was the basis of much discussion around the pits, with fellow competitors and judges," Matt said. "The judges reserve the right to disqualify cars which do not represent a serious attempt at an operational suspension system."

With the UWA team withdrawing from the competition, it was not until months later that the rules committee accepted the vehicle's suspension, without making comment on whether or not the design was good engineering.

The team withdrew after the static events (design, cost and presentation) because the team could not get the car up to the standard they wanted for racing.

Spokesperson Suzie Delahunt said the last-minute work needed on the vehicle at the race venue in Werribee, Victoria, varied from year to year.

"Normally, it is just final preparatory work," she said. "But the amount of work left to do last year at Werribee was insurmountable.  Sadly, it was a combination of problems built up over the year.

"With ongoing engine and electrical issues, we decided not to push to finish the car for the dynamic (racing) events because we felt we wouldn't be competing at a respectable level."

Some of the UWA team members were taken on by other crews for the weekend and gained valuable experience.

UWA Motorsport is supported by more than 40 sponsors, who are looking forward to more of the national and international success for which the Motorsport project has become known.