The University of Queensland’s (UQ) Race team recently put their Formula SAE race car to the test at the Tighe Cams Hill Climb Series.

The two-day event provided the UQ Racing team with the perfect opportunity to test the ability and performance of the race car on the 980metre track in preparation for future racing events.

Although weather conditions throughout the course of the two-day meet were not ideal, UQ Racing drivers Jake Knowles and Stuart-Ross French managed to steer the team to a successful meet, completing a combined total of 10 runs.

Despite spinning the car on his third run, Knowles finished the first day of competition with a clean 57 second lap in the intensifying rain.

“It was a shame about the weather, it would have been great to see what we could do in the dry,” Mr Knowles said.

“Regardless of the conditions, it was still a lot of fun – even with the spin on my third run!”

In spite of the constant change in surface integrity, the team were able to trial both wet weather and slick tires, ultimately leading to the team’s fastest lap of the meet to occur on French’s third run of the day in a time of 53.52 seconds.

“The car ran really well” Mr French said.

“We weren’t pushing it too hard; it’s not what this weekend was about and the changing conditions today meant the track condition was unknown on every run.

“Since the Formula SAE Australasia competition we are aiming for in December is run in Melbourne, testing the car in the wet is never a bad thing!”

Hosted by The MG Car Club of Queensland, the event attracted vehicles of all shapes, sizes and abilities and provided the perfect opportunity for the team’s most recent members to witness operations in a competitive environment.

At the conclusion of the competition, UQ Racing’s Team Manager, Ben Swinn commented on the success of the weekend and acknowledged the efforts of The MG Car Club of Queensland in hosting the event.

“On behalf of the whole UQ Racing team, I’d like to thank the MG Car Club of Queensland and our fellow competitors for their hospitality and interest in welcoming the team this weekend,” Mr Swinn said.

UQ Racing now have their sights set on continuing to build and improve their new car, UQR12, in preparation for the next Formula SAE Australasian competition to be held in Melbourne from December 6-9, 2012.

For more information on UQ Racing, see the team’s website www.uqracing.com  and like the team on Facebook or on twitter @uqracing.     

By Jared Timms

Media: Madelene Flanagan (m.flanagan@uq.edu.au or 3365 8525) or Liam Montgomery (liam.montgomery@uqracing.com)