Actually, Manipal (
Formula Manipal), KJ Somaya (
Orion Racing), Thapar University (
Team Fateh), are among a few teams which have been participating in these Formula SAE events worldwide, since 2006! I am glad this is being discussed here. The recent Formula Student Event has really made a lot of Indian companies attracted towards it. The event itself was sponsored by JK Tires.
I would like to make a note here regarding the push for R n D.
Those of us who have been to such events must be aware that many international teams from Germany, US, UK are sponsored by the automobile giants in terms of cash, knowledge or any help. These include Porsche, mercedes, BMW, GM, Ferrari, etc..
But in India, there is hardly any support by the industry. Most of the time we are asked to make the team under their name instead of University's, if it wants any sponsorship, which is totally against the foremost rule of these events!
I seriously fail to understand why is there the difference here than in other countries. Don't they have R n D here ? Why doesn't any industry take this opportunity to nurture the young talent, even if it is providing any kind of support. We see all of them holding rally races, is Formula Student not a technical challenge? or it is because the concerned events are not in India but in Germany, or UK where they are afraid to show up ?
There is no surprise, almost all of the members of such teams wish to get MS degree and settle outside. The education system is another topic for some other thread. We actually watch fellow international team members getting "Placed" right there in the event !!!
Not to mention, in Germany event, there are stalls of Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, Volkswagen, MAN (in Automobile), Continental, SKF, BOSCH, Loctite, and so many other German giants. Have not visited FS UK myself, would do this July, but similar stalls are there too.
Maybe a few visits in Automobile industries, an insight in the industry design and manufacturing process would also play a very important role in making the teams well aware of the practical approach, out of books and formulae.
Most of the private institutes lack the facilities to properly test & validate the different components. Maybe these industries can provide such facilities so that at least we can get to equal level. None of the Indian teams use Aerodynamics. Why ? Simple, no such facilities!
Also, I felt the lack of support from university till last year. This year, it could be the same episode, but the commendation from all the visiting automobile industries, marvelous response of industries towards the technical approach of the project, made them show "Some" acceptance towards the team.
Being part of the team, I have experienced the benefit we bear during campus placements. We are among the first to get placed in the visiting Automobile industry, and most of us are directly allocated to R n D division.
I do wish to see Indian teams in the top list. But would like the support from Indian industries increase too!
Just for information, the judges in these international events are themselves involved with some Automobile or related industries.
Claude Rolle (Director, Optimum G), i remember only one name
https://www.formulastudent.de/fsg/officials-fsg-2015/ http://www.formulastudent.com/ http://students.sae.org/cds/formulaseries/fsae/ http://fsae.com/ http://formulastudent.in/