Apogee sponsors Staffordshire University Racing

After winning the 1^st Year Vehicle Champions trophy in FS2021, the SUR team returned to Silverstone this year to compete in FS2022 against teams from over 50 international universities – placing fourth overall out of over 100 teams.

Having provided Staffordshire University with Managed Print Services since 2020 – comprised of 80 HP devices and two high-quality Production Print machines - Apogee were approached to sponsor the SUR team; joining the likes of Alton Towers, Majenta, DynoJet, and the KMF Group, among others.

Hosted by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and backed by high-profile engineer Ross Brawn OBE, the objective of the Formula Student competition is to use motorsport to encourage young people to pursue a career in engineering.

Typically forming part of a degree-level project, preparation for the Formula Student competition gives students practical engineering experience; as well as other skills such as project management and business planning. According to the IMechE, the motorsport industry views completion of this project as the standard requirement for engineering graduates to enter the workplace.

“The SUR team demonstrated exceptional commitment, dedication, and above all, teamwork. The whole event was a showcase for the future superstars of engineering, and Apogee were fortunate to be playing a small but important part of this.”
– Dom Gryszan, Marketing Director for Apogee

Though 111 racing teams entered FS2022, only 54 passed the scrutineering process, which assesses the quality of the chassis, tech, safety, brakes, noise, and tilt.

This year, the SUR team created Formula Student history by becoming the first car to successfully pass all aspects of the scrutineering requirements for the second consecutive year. 

“The SUR team demonstrated exceptional commitment, dedication, and above all, teamwork,” says Dom Gryszan, Marketing Director for Apogee.  “The whole event was a showcase for the future superstars of engineering, and Apogee were fortunate to be playing a small but important part of this.”

Following scrutineering, the 54 university teams competed against each other in a number of events: split into static events, which assessed preparatory performance such as cost, design, sustainability, and business presentation plan; and dynamic events, such as acceleration, sprint, skidpad, and endurance – as well as fuel efficiency. Scores for these individual categories are then combined for an overall. 

As well as scoring consistently well over each of the categories, the SUR team were amongst only 14 teams whose vehicles had the capacity to finish the dynamic events. Not only this, but they also managed to claim top position in the Fastest Lap Shootout event – a feat made all the more impressive by the fact that, as a young team, SUR only had access to a budget equivalent to a fraction of their competitor’s.

Following their achievements, the SUR team plan to attend FS2023, where they are confident of more success to come.

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