University of Wolverhampton Racing
Sponsored by the EIS
2019 was another excellent year for the University of Wolverhampton Racing Team, competing in Formula Student, the F3 Cup and running 3 Plus 4 Club Sports in the AR Morgan Challenge. The Formula Student team spend months in the workshops and classrooms long before a wheel touches the tarmac at Silverstone. Our 2019 car, Wolf 5, was a complete rebuild, with almost every aspect improved, from full carbon bodywork, intricate titanium suspension uprights, lightweight brake calipers and a newer, lighter steering wheel. Wolf 5 made good progress through the scrutineering rounds, reaching the on-track competitions much more quickly than its predecessor. Unfortunately, during the drag race event, the throttle pedal stuck with the engine at wide-open throttle, preventing the driver from changing gears and necessitating a four-wheel lock-up. The UWR students worked through the night to repair the car, testing their engineering skills and knowledge. UWR finished 41st out of 81 teams, but considering some unforeseen misfortunes, UWR’s student engineers acquitted themselves well, and will take valuable experience into the 2020 season and the work place.
track position didn’t matter to UWR, only finishing the race, and finish it he did, securing the Class S P1, the Class S fastest lap and the Morgan Challenge Trophy. Congratulations to Tony Hirst and the UWR Morgan team on their superb season and stellar victory. Shane Kelly and the UWR F3 Cup team place 2nd in the 2019 F3 Cup! UWR’s F3 Cup Team secured 2nd place in the championship for the third time in four years of competing. An excellent qualification session boosted UWR’s hopes of stealing P1, especially after Shane Kelly made his best start of the season to lead Race 1. The hopes were short-lived though as Kelly lead for just one lap, the long straights of Snetterton allowing drivers whose engines favour straight-line speed to out-muscle the Racing Wolves. As time ticked away, three cars passed Kelly, leaving UWR to hold on for 4th place by the skin of their teeth.
UWR win the AR Motorsport Trophy, the Morgan Challenge Trophy and the Class S Championship. At a damp and slippery Snetterton, Hamilton-Smith lost control and span his Plus 4 Club Sport into the crash barrier. While Craig was unhurt, his car took significant damage to the front right wheel, suspension and chassis. Hamilton-Smith’s weekend was over before it could begin and Hirst had one hand on the trophy. Knowing that Tony would only have to finish Saturday’s race to win the title, he drove a circumspect qualifying round, securing 10th place and 1st in class.
Drama unfolded in Race 2, as after 19 minutes of the 20 minute, with Kelly again maintaining P4, a mechanical failure on the last lap forced UWR to retire and score 0 points. After the race, Shane Kelly said, “It’s been an amazing effort by a group of hard working students who never give up. We’ve had so much support from our partners and sponsors so a massive thank you to them too.” For more information, to follow us or to sponsor us visit:
By the second lap he had slipped from 10th to 15th and was concentrating hard on the slippery surface. Overall
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Images © Andi Rusyn Photography 43