After close to two years of hard work, the team attended the 2009 Formula Student event at Silverstone and came away as the UK’s best team. This equals the successes of the 2007 and 2008 teams but with even more teams competing this year (10 more than in 2008), the achievement is arguably greater. Whilst the competition started slowly with the team underperforming in the skidpan and acceleration events, moral was bolstered as the team recorded a 2nd place in the presentation event, bettered shortly afterwards with a win in the cost event. The overall performance of the car was demonstrated in the Sprint event, but with more to come.

The all important endurance took place under horrible conditions as rain was combined with oil when a competitor blew and leaked. The team excelled under these conditions and were leading the endurance (with all the big names having completed the event) and having set the fastest lap (in the oily conditions) for most of the day. Inevitiably the track cleaned up and dried up. The team agonisingly watched as their name tumbled down the timeheets. Despite this, and thanks to a strong showing in the fuel economy event the team finished a remarkable 4th overall, as in 2008. One can only wonder what could have been had it stayed dry…

The team would like to offer wholehearted thanks to all sponsors – particularly Castrol Racing and Cummins, the guys and gals at Colerne Air Traffic Control, the technicians operating the machine shop and autoclave at the university – particularly, “Magic” Andy Church, Andy Robinson and of course supervisors Kevin Robinson and Speed Owen. We couldn’t have done it without you.