UoP Racing Team is the first and longest running Greek Formula Student team located in University of Patras. Founded in 2002 and supported throughout the years by the Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems & Automation, UoP Racing team members design, develop and manufacture high-performance racecars that compete in the Formula Student series around the globe, alongside hundreds of teams from all over the world.
The team's ethos
Background and origins The idea was born in 2000 when a few students from the Mechanical Engineering & Aeronautics department of the University of Patras decided to build a single-seater racecar and participate in the worldwide competitions of Formula Student. At that time their experience came only from books and their resources were limited. However, under the support of the Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems & Automation, as well as the guidance of professor George Chryssolouris, they managed to gather a team and build their first -of many- single-seater formula style racecar.
Philosophy and education The main goal of the team is education and working in the team gives students a great opportunity to gain a lot of experience and qualifications. The students that participate in the team are mainly students from the Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics department of the University of Patras. However, since 2013 the team includes students from other departments, such as Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Economics and Business Administration. The members are divided in several modules/sub-teams, with each module having one leader who coordinates all members.
Since 2014 the team operates under a new philosophy of resource efficiency. Design and materials are assessed in a way which factors in environmentally friendliness and also price to performance ratio. This led to the adoption of an “out of the box” thinking, which can lead to the creation of innovative ideas and novel manufacturing approaches that are foreign in areas with established technologies. This mentality precisely defines the FSAE/FS competitions.
History
UoP Racing team has been competing officially from 2002 in the aforementioned competitions, and has already built its own history, designing and manufacturing 10 single-seater racecars . Highlights include an overall Class 1 win (FS Czech 2014) and winning two times in Class 2 (FS 2003 and 2006), gaining the first position in all events, as well as the special design prize provided by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). In addition, UoP Racing is one of the few Formula Student teams that has won the 1st place in a particular event (Cost & Manufacturing) in back to back competitions (Formula SAE Italy 2016 and Formula Student Czech Republic 2016).
UoP1 (Year: 2002-2004)
As stated before, 2002 was the starting point of UoP Racing and subsequently the Formula Student programme in Greek universities. Seven students of the department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics at the University of Patras had the idea to build a racecar and take part in Formula Student competitions. The concept was then completely unknown in Greece, and the resources available were really limited. UoP1 was way ahead of its time, featuring an (in-house built) hybrid composite monocoque chassis, with a removable subframe, 10” wheels to minimize unsprung mass and inertia, and a 4-cylinder Yamaha engine. The team went on to win the IMechE Design award and conquered the first place in the overall scoreboard of the Class 2 in FSUK (the only European competition back in the day, held in the Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome) in 2003 and was the first ever Greek entry in Class 1 in 2004. Reliability issues prevented the team to score high, but the experience gained from the competitions was of utmost importance for the evolution and future potential of the team. Since 2014, UoP1 has found a new home in the Hellenic Motor Museum as part of the permanent exhibition "Made by Hellas", to serve as a reminder of how it all began.
Characteristics Specifications Length/Width/Height/Wheelbase2537mm/1431mm/1146mm/1650mm Track (front/rear) 1240mm/1220mm Weight with 150 lb driver 280 kg Suspension (front/rear) Double unequal length A-Arm. Push rod actuated horizontally oriented spring and damper/Double unequal length A-Arm. Push rod actuated horizontally oriented spring and damper Wheels (front/rear) 6 inch wide, 2 pc Al Rim, 2 inch negative offset/6 inch wide, 2 pc Al Rim, 2 inch negative offset Brake System Cast Iron, hub mounted, 160mm dia., 5mm thick, vented, Nissin, 2 piston model caliper /Cast Iron, Differential mounted, 215mm dia., 5mm thick, vented, Nissin, 2 piston model caliper Frame Construction carbon fiber Monocoque 2 piece front section / hybrid rear sub frame (aluminum sheet/steel tubes) Frame Materials Woven CC201 Carbon fiber, 4130 Laser-cut sheet steel, 4130 25mm OD tubing Engine 1996 Yamaha YZF600R 4cyl Bore/stroke/cylinders/cc 62mm bore/49,6mm stroke/4 cylinder/ 599 cc Fuel system Student des/built, fuel injection, sequential Max power RPM/Max Torque RPM 8500rpm/6500rpm Drive Type 520 Chain 0-Ring DifferentialLimited slip Torsen T-1(University Special)
UoP2 (Year: 2005-2007) Aiming for the continuation of the project in the University of Patras, a brand new team of nine students participated in the 2005 FS Competition for the first time, as a Class 3 entry, presenting a new design solution for the next FS car to be manufactured. Simpler, cheaper and more straightforward solutions were adopted throughout the development of the car, using a steel tubular spaceframe and directly actuated dampers. UoP2 also marked the beginning of the single cylinder engine era for the team. All of the changes led to a more advanced and lighter car than UoP1.
Characteristics Specifications Length/Width/Height/Wheelbase2590mm/1574mm/1247mm/1530mm Track (front/rear) 1000mm/1050mm Weight including 68 kg driver (front/rear)134/155 Suspension (front/rear) Unequal length A-Arm. Fox DHX 2.0 spring/damper units installed above chassis, Direct actuated via push-rodsTires (front/rear) 160/530 R13 Silverstone FTZ Sport Slick / 160/530 R13 Silverstone FTZ Sport Slick Wheels (front/rear) 6x13, -6mm offset AISi7Mg aluminum alloy / 6x13, -6mm offset AISi7Mg aluminum alloy Brake System 2x220mm Cast Iron drilled rotors at front, 1x256mm differential-mounted drilled disc at rear, 3xBrembo 2-piston caliper, Tilton balance bar Frame Construction Steel (Chromoly 4130H Steel) tubes space frame Engine Modified 2003 Yamaha XT600E (3AJ) Bore/stroke/cylinders/cc 95mm bore / 84mm stroke / 1 cylinder / 600cc Fuel98 octane unleaded gasoline Fuel system Haltech E6X, sequential injection, direct ignition Max power RPM/Max Torque RPM 8500rpm/6500rpm Drive Type 5 speed sequential gearbox DifferentialModified Torsen T1 LSD University Special
UoP2Evo (Year: 2008-2009) UoP2Evo is an almost complete upgrade of the UoP2. Using the same basic components, the chassis was redesigned to improve stiffness. At the same time, changes to almost all subsystems led to a further reduction of its total weight. Track was increased for stability, while dampers actuation was changed to pushrod. Moreover, a completely new, lighter and higher quality bodywork was built. The car participated successfully in all the events of the competitions UoP Racing took part in, which again helped the team gain valuable experience for development of future cars.
Characteristics SpecificationsLength/Width/Height/Wheelbase2590mm/1574mm/1247mm/1530mm Track (front/rear) 1210mm/1200mm Weight including 68 kg driver (front/rear)124/144 Suspension (front/rear) Unequal length A-Arm. Fox DHX 5.0 spring/damper units installed above chassis, actuated via push-rods Tires (front/rear) 160/530 R13 Silverstone FTZ Sport Slick / 160/530 R13 Silverstone FTZ Sport Slick Wheels (front/rear) 76x13, -6mm offset AISi7Mg aluminum alloy / 6x13, -6mm offset AISi7Mg aluminum alloy Brake System 2x220mm Cast Iron drilled rotors at front, 1x256mm differential-mounted drilled disc at rear, 3xBrembo 2-piston caliper, Tilton balance bar Frame Construction Steel (Chromoly 4130H Steel) tubes space frame Engine Modified 2003 Yamaha XT600E (3AJ) Bore/stroke/cylinders/cc 95mm bore / 84mm stroke / 1 cylinder / 600cc Fuel98 octane unleaded gasoline Fuel system Haltech E6X, sequential injection, direct ignition Max power RPM/Max Torque RPM 8500rpm/6500rpm Drive Type 5 speed sequential gearbox DifferentialModified Torsen T1 LSD University Special
UoP3 (Year: 2009-2010) An alternative way of manufacturing came up during the designing process of UoP3. The changes applied would bring a major innovation in team's history. A new frame was constructed from carbon fiber monocoque which became a key ingredient for UoP racing. The car being lightweight was a top priority and that led to a change in the engine used, as the team switched from a Yamaha XT600E (3AJ) to a Yamaha WR450. The third generation of the team, which consisted of 12 students, gathered all the feedback and experience from the design and construction of the two previous cars and aimed high. The racecar competed only in the FSAE Michigan competition of that year and proved significantly lighter than its predecessors. As of November 2016, UoP3 remains the lightest racecar of UoP Racing, weighing 175 kilos.
Characteristics Specifications Length/Width/Height/Wheelbase2537mm/1431mm/1146mm/1650mm Track (front/rear) 1240mm/1220mm Suspension (front/rear) Double unequal length A-Arm. Pull rod actuated horizontally oriented spring and damper/Double unequal length A-Arm. Pull rod actuated horizontally oriented spring and damper Tires (front/rear) 18x7.5-10 R25B Hoosier slicks/19.5x6.5-10 Hoosier wets Wheels (front/rear) 7.5 inch wide, 3 pc Al Rim, custom Al center/7.5 inch wide, 3 pc Al Rim, custom Al center Brake System Floating, Cast Iron, hub mounted, 180mm dia. Drilled ISR rotors, 4xISR 22-048 OB four piston caliper Frame Construction Two piece carbon fiber monocoque Engine 2008 Yamaha WR450 Bore/stroke/cylinders/cc 95mm bore/63mm stroke /1 cylinder/ 449 cc Fuel system Student designed/built fuel injection system using Keihin 550cc/min injectors and Haltech E6X ECU Max power RPM/Max Torque RPM 9000rpm/7500rpm Drive Type DID ERV 520 chain DifferentialDrexler LSD - Formula student
UoP3Evo (Year: 2011-2012) After receiving encouraging feedback from judges in previous years' competitions, the 18 members of the team improved the UoP3 chassis construction, while redesigning the suspension system to reduce compliances. The powertrain sub-system was retained, albeit with a revised differential mount and exhaust system. The result was a slightly heavier car but way more reliable. UoP3Evo successfully participated in held in Hockenheimring and in Formula SAE Italy held in Autodromo Riccardo Paletti, finishing in all dynamic events that year, rendering the best results the team had this far.