In the main event the 4th year team (TBR10), with the car launched at the Design Exhibition, had a lot to live up to, with Bath having been the best UK team for the past 3 years (and 6th, 4th, 4th overall).

In the static events we had a similar strong performance to last year. We scored an impressive 4th overall in the Business Presentation section, and surpassed this by coming second in the Cost and Manufacturing element. 22nd place in the design event was a slight disappointment. The static events took place in parallel to getting the car scrutinized for safety, compliance with the rules, noise testing, brake tests etc on Thursday and Friday. This was remarkably trouble free, the car even passed the noise test – despite being remarkably loud!

The 3rd Year Students (TBR11) presented their design for the 2011 car in “Class 2″. Previously there had been a number of classes for paper based, part built, or unfinished cars. This year they were all merged into a new larger class of around 25 teams. Team Bath Racing is pleased to say that the 2011 Bath team won the Design Prize in this class. They did well in the other two elements but not quite enough to win outright, finally coming a very close second overall.

To give an idea of the time involved at the events. Most days involve work on the car starting at 7:30am, and still being hard at it when you are thrown out of the pits at 9pm, to go and have a pint and a bite to eat in the camp site before hitting the tent.

The acceleration event, skid pad and sprint events were all completed without incident. Time pressures meant the team really had to be on the ball. It is worth noting that of the 80 or so teams, only 50 managed to complete all three events on the Saturday.

So with only Sunday’s Endurance left, we were around 10th overall, only 3 points (in 400) behind the leading UK team of Hertfordshire. The two top cars failed to finish the Endurance. Bath however managed a strong run, despite some overheating problems at the driver change. There was much tension in the pits waiting for the times to come out. We had used less fuel than Hertfordshire, but were they quicker?

When the score finally came, Hertfordshire were. And whilst we gained some points for using less fuel it wasn’t quite enough to make the difference. So we have lost our crown of best UK team. Eventually we finished 8th overall, and second best UK team (a long way ahead of third place UK team Swansea).

We should all be proud of what the students have achieved for the University. This was again a very strong performance. Bath is held in high esteem for what we achieve, and so it should.

And once again we have done this with a budget at a fraction of that of our European and UK opposition. The continued support of our sponsors is vital, and success like this can only help!

Roll on the Austrian event in August