UPC ecoRacing: Motorsport as a development platform

       
Pushing the boundaries of technology, building fast and reliable racing cars whilst pursuing sustainable solutions: that is the motto of UPC ecoRacing. The Spanish Formula Student team was founded in 2008 by students at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (Spain) and is now one of the country’s most successful teams.
     
Formula Student is an international engineering competition in which students design, build, test and race their own Formula cars. However, the judging criteria go beyond speed and performance to include design, innovation, cost-effectiveness and the feasibility of the overall concept. As well as technical expertise, the competition also requires project management, teamwork and organisational skills.
     
UPC ecoRacing has developed new prototypes every year since its foundation. Following the creation of Spain’s first hybrid Formula Student car, the team began focusing on fully electric racing cars from 2014 onwards. Since 2021, UPC ecoRacing has also been working on autonomous vehicles for the Driverless Cup.
      
The current racing car also demonstrates just how demanding the competition is: the chassis is made of carbon fibre and aluminium in a honeycomb structure. The suspension, anti-roll bars, springs and shock absorbers are designed to maximise the tyres’ potential when cornering. An independently controlled motor on each wheel, combined with torque vectoring, enables high cornering speeds. The high-voltage battery, inverter and battery management system ensure an efficient power supply to the electric drive system. The seat, steering wheel and pedals, made from natural fibres, are not only functional but also environmentally friendly and enhance driving comfort.
       
norelem supports UPC ecoRacing – one of around 100 Formula Student teams worldwide – with expertise and components from its extensive range, including split pins, hexagon nuts and hexagon head bolts, dowel pins and drill bushes.