Group Project

The group project is an important element of the MSc in Motorsport Engineering and Management, accounting for 20% of the overall MSc course assessment. The objective of the group project is to provide the students with experience of working as part of a team, organising the various elements of the project within a group, managing resources and developing their reporting and presentation skills.

Motorsport group project 2009-10

Supported by Silverstone through the unique 'Virtual Silverstone' project

The students will be required to investigate improvements in the Cranfield vehicle design, both in terms of structural and aerodynamics of the nose cone, as well as the design of an environmentally friendly barrier for the new Silverstone circuit, in order to increase driver safety and race performance. Project titles are:

An approach to race circuit safety and Formula Ford energy absorbing structures
The design of a deceleration control system for Stowe Circuit of Silverstone Circuits Ltd and a Formula Ford nosecone
Elementary analysis of race circuit safety mechanisms: an applied case study of the inter-relationships between barrier design, placement, and single-seater frontal crash structure performance
Investigating the interaction between a new environmentally friendly motorsport safety barrier and Formula Ford nosecone during crash scenarios
An investigation into the global crash system of Stowe Circuit and a Formula Ford racecar

> Please view the presentation day overview for further project information

Motorsport group project 2008-9

Define, design and model a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) for use in a Le Mans Prototype (LMP) car

The aim was to research and develop the ideas behind a very relevant and current technology – bearing in mind that budgets for LMP are considerably smaller than for an F1 team! The technology operates by storing energy that would otherwise be lost during braking and converting it into power for the benefit of reduced fuel consumption and increased race performance. Teams considered current requirements and regulations, how the device would be fitted, technical issues, servicing, costs, competitive advantage and the support required. Pictured right: The winning team