AGH UST Racing take part in competition Formula Student Spain

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After successful performance in Italy and Hungary, the team of AGH UST Racing took part in Formula Student Spain, held on the same track as F1 races – Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. It was definitely the most professional competition in which our team had a chance to compete against the other teams of Formula Student. 

The uniqueness of the place, access to infrastructure that is normally used by F1 drivers and the atmosphere of the venue where the most technologically advanced cars are serviced, and where the tests of supercars to be soon available on the market take place – all this surely made our contestants feel a surge of adrenaline and boosted their enthusiasm to compete against the best teams of Formula Student under hot Spanish skies. 

The team reached the destination one day before the competition. They spent free time recovering after the journey and visiting the racing track in order to feel the atmosphere of rivalry in the air. The following morning, rested and full of enthusiasm, the contestants went through the registration procedures, arranged a space for the car, and began preparations for the technical inspection of the vehicle. 

The following day was the beginning of the first competition events. In the morning, the team of AGH UST Racing presented their Business Plan to the jurors. They also passed one of the static stages – Cost Event. Design Event, i.e. the evaluation of the project of the vehicle, took place the following morning. The next stage was a technical inspection (Scrutineering), which the team passed without any problems. The jurors did not have any major remarks, and our team was accepted to take part in the dynamic events. In the afternoon, the team made the last adjustments to the car and moved to the Practice Area in order to have a little bit of training and preparation before the competition races.   

The subsequent day of the competition began with the replacement of a water pump in the vehicle. Problems with engine cooling had started during the evening practice. Fixing the fault took the entire morning, but luckily the team managed to take part in two dynamic events – Acceleration and Skid Pad. Then, the contestants decided to test the vehicle before the Autocross event. Unfortunately, during practice the first driver had problems with downshifting, and the car returned to the garage. The next attempt was successful, and the result in this event was improved by the second driver. The day was full of excitement and required from the team a lot of work and emotion control. Still, before the competition final everyone was ready for battle, and all team members were very enthusiastic.

The last day on the track Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was the last competition event – Endurance (testing the endurance of the vehicles). The problems of the previous day had disappeared – the car performed very well and the team of AGH UST Racing for the second time in the season completed the most difficult and the most highly ranked competition event. 

The competition Formula Student Spain, held on 24-28 August, 2016, was entered by 70 teams. In the group of combustion cars there were 40 of them, including AGH UST Racing. Out team achieved the following results:

• General classification – 14^th place, 421.5 points 
• Skid Pad – 10^th place, 37.18 points 
• Efficiency – 11^th  place; 10.9 points
• Endurance – 12^th place; 131.9 points
• Acceleration – 15^th place, 52.56 points  
• Autocross – 17^th place, 20.49 points   
• Design Event – 23^rd place, 85 points  
• Cost Event – 24^th place, 45.06 points   
• Business Plan Presentation – 31^st place, 39 points 

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