Racing car winners eye an encore

The Indian team comprising of 16 boys from the Delhi College of Engineering, which won the Best Endeavour Trophy and a cash award of 250 pounds sterling at the Formula Student 2003 held at Bruntingthrope, England, have decided to participate again in the tournament next year.

Indian students design racing car
Indian students bag race car award

Speaking to rediff.com after returning to New Delhi the boys said they were convinced that they could put up a better show in the world universities car designing championship in 2004.

"We have been so encouraged by the outcome of our efforts and the response that we got from all the participating teams, the organisers and encouraging remarks from the judges of the event that we have decided to go again next year," said Nishchint Gangahar.

The boys had spent Rs 600,000 in designing the formula car and spent Rs 300,000 in transporting the car from Delhi to England besides bearing their own tickets and stay in England.

"When we left for the tournament we were a bit apprehensive. But when we reached there we found that members of the rival team were also eager in lending us a helping hand in bringing our car into shape before the event. Although 58 universities had come to participate in the tournament, only 38 including one from India qualified to participate in the tournament. The very fact we managed to pass the scrutiny in our maiden attempt surprised even some of the judges," said Chirag Taneja.

The car designed by the Indian boys had to pass three main tests.

The team of judges first had a close look at the car to find out whether it had been made as per guidelines laid down by the tournament committee. Then the vehicle was checked for noise pollution check.

"All the cars had to be under 110 DBA and our car registered 105.4 DBA-well under the noise pollution level. The most difficult test was the brake test. All the four wheels must stop at the same time when the brakes are applied. We managed to do well in all the three tests and that earned us round of applause from the audience and other participating teams," said Summit Chaudhary, youngest member of the team.

The heart of the boys thumped heavily when the ultimate challenge came before them. Run the car on the racetrack and complete 31 laps with three different drivers.

"We did not know whether the car would run or not. But when R K Gupta our team leader got into the drivers seat and pressed the accelerator and the car moved on the track at 60 kilometers an hour we were more then happy," said Nishchint who replaced Gupta as the second driver on the track.

The organisers gifted the Indian boys with two racing tracksuits to enable them to participate in the event. "We didn't have the track suits and requested the organisers if we could take them on loan. They gave us two suits when we reached Bruntingthrope Proving Ground Leicestershire. When we offered to return the suits after the event they did not take them back and asked us to keep them. Each suit is worth 1000 pound sterling," said Chirag.