Frankfurt. It is not only theory that counts while studying. Referring to the practical use gets more and more important. Especially the FH Frankfurt pushes the so-called application-oriented modules. Even now the university has turned to racing. At present the Racing Team is developing an own race car that is to compete on the Hockenheimring next year.

“It was the idea of the students themselves”, said Ingo Behr, scientific contributor in the laboratory of combustion engines. They had found the documents of the International Contest formula Student. In the end of the year 2007, 15 prospective engineers founded the motor sport team of the FH Frankfurt. The service provider “euro engineering” came up as principal sponsor. However the insisted that the FH should participate at the event in august 2008. For Ingo Behr this time period was just too short. “The development of a race car takes at least a year”. Particularly since the Team was not warmed up together. Nevertheless the student achieved “with the help of long nights” to present their car to the judges in Hockenheim. The cars had to proof their abilities in the disciplines acceleration, design and calculation of costs.

 

Already the looks of the race car among the 78 Teams including 1700 students from 19 nations caused publicity. “Instead of box-shaped we decided on a rounded shape”,  explained Patrick Dellner. “Though it is more effortful we wanted to show that it is possible”. Together with Marco Kolb, Patrick Dellner is the driver of the own creation. Though both of them told that they would be the best drivers, weight and hight were the most important criteria: the lighter the faster. Kolb also was responsible for the motor and the drive. He had to get out the maximum of the to approx. 80 Hp restricted Motor. Lord of the clutch and shifting is Lennart Benthele. He integrated both components to be actuated by pushbutton. Sebastian Bischoff was dealing with the ignition, the problem in August 2008. When the car was to be started up, the ignition box broke. The ignition system had been taken from an original Yamaha motorbike. Disappointingly because of that the car had to stay in the box. Even a night shift could not solve the problem. “We had been known on Hockenheimring as the Team that never sleeps”, said Patrick Dellner, proud of the work.

The fun in building and developing a new race car cannot be take off the students anyways. And this time, everybody is sure, the ignition is going to work!