University of Hertfordshire best British team at Silverstone motorsport championship

STUDENTS from the University of Hertfordshire have gone one better than Tewin race ace Lewis Hamilton – with a podium finish at Silverstone.

The Hatfield-based uni has beat the likes of USA and Australia to finish third at the 2011 Formula Student race – the world’s largest student motorsport competition, held at Silverstone.

Formula Student, run by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, challenges universities from across the world to design and build an F1-style racing car in one year before racing them at Silverstone. The cars are judged on speed, acceleration, handling and endurance, while the teams are tested on their design, costing and business presentation skills.

The uni’s third place finish made them the best British team in the competition, and was one better than McClaren’s Lewis Hamilton, who finished fourth on the same circuit at the British Grand Prix two weeks ago.

Clare Cletheroe, Team Leader of the University of Hertfordshire racing team, said: “It was a major surprise to come third.

“We did really well on the final day thanks to a massive team effort. I wouldn’t like to add up all the hours we’ve put in to get this result – a lot of late, late nights and early mornings.”

The University of Stuttgart won the competition for the third time, making them the joint-most successful team in Formula Student’s 14 year history.

TU Munich, last year’s winners, came second.