RIT Formula Race Team Takes Fifth Place in International Competition

‌

Timothy Monahan

Aleksey Kovtun, driving the RIT Formula racecar, competes in one of the dynamic events as part of the 2010 SAE Formula Student Germany Competition. The team placed fifth overall among 76 international collegiate design teams.

The Rochester Institute of Technology Formula race team returned to Germany and improved upon last year’s standing, taking fifth place overall in the 2010 SAE Formula Student Germany competition. The team competed Aug. 4-8 in Hockenheimring, Germany, against 76 collegiate design teams from around the world.

“As a team, we knew we had a strong car,” says Ed Gliss, project manager for RIT Formula Racing. “It was a great team accomplishment, but drivers Aleksey Kovtun and Taylor Hattori deserve special recognition for their performance on the track.”

The team placed fourth in the endurance race, one of its strongest events this season. In its previous competition in California, RIT won the event despite a fuel line problem.

In other individual events, the team placed seventh in autocross, eighth in skid pad and 12th in acceleration. For the static events, RIT tied for 18th place in design and 16th for its business plan.

Plans for developing new engine and chassis design elements for the 2011 season have begun already, says Gliss. “These changes will lead to an exciting new season where RIT Formula SAE plans to continue to climb in the world rankings.”

SAE Formula, sponsor of the student design competitions, has begun to rank the collegiate teams from around the world who compete in at least three major events in a season. Overall performance and results are tabulated to rank the 454 teams that compete regularly. After the 2010 season, RIT Formula Racing is ranked sixth behind teams from Japan, Australia and Austria.

Members of the RIT Formula Racing Team who traveled to Germany to compete are (standing left to right) Tim Monahan, Aleksey Kovtun, Evan See, Kursten O’Neill, Ed Gliss, Taylor Hattori, John Scanlon, Kyle Mangiagli, Tom Giuffre, Alan Nye (professor of mechanical engineering and team advisor); (kneeling) Bryan Reinheimer, Japheth Learn; in car: Matt Smith Photo by SAE Formula Student Germany