Cal Poly Pomona's Formula SAE student racing and engineering team has placed first out of all U.S. teams at an international design competition held in Germany.
The team captured 16th overall and bested seven American rivals in the Formula Student Germany International Design Competition, held in Hockenheim, that concluded Aug. 2.
More than 100 teams competed in multiple events, with students from around the world building single-seat formula race cars that were evaluated for the best overall combination of construction, performance, and financial and sales planning.
"Teams take on the assumption that they are a manufacturer developing a prototype to be evaluated for production," explains the event's website. "The target audience is the non-professional weekend racer. The race car must show very good driving characteristics such as acceleration, braking and handling. It should be offered at a very reasonable cost and be reliable and dependable. Additionally, the car's market value increases through other factors such as aesthetics, comfort and the use of readily available, standard purchase components."
This year, the Cal Poly Pomona team went with an all-new design featuring a R6 Yamaha motorcycle engine, 10-inch wheels, an electro-mechanical shift system, and aerodynamic innovations
"To take this project in less than a year, with over 50 percent new members, and successfully compete with this vehicle is phenomenal, to say the least," says Cliff Stover, the engineering professor who advises the team.
The Bronco engineers finished each event, including the endurance race, a feat accomplished by only 43 of the 85 teams. In autocross, the Bronco team came in second among the U.S. teams, which included Seattle, Rochester, Pittsburgh, Kansas University, Akron and Auburn.
"These international multidisciplinary design competitions showcase our future, our engineers, and our next generation of great young minds," says Stover.
Participation gives students a way to enhance their skills beyond their classroom engineering education and acts as comprehensive preparation for their professional careers.
For more information about the team or for updates on their progress, visit the Formula SAE website, the Facebook page or follow them on Twitter.