A team of 60 engineering students from Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) won this year’s Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Formula Student competition, which challenges student engineers to design, build and race a single-seat racing car in one year.

The competition comprises eight tests, including acceleration, endurance and fuel economy. The students are also assessed on their car’s design and the business case that they prepared.

Team Delft claimed the prize at Silverstone with a total score of 909.3 (out of a possible 1,000). Germany’s UAS Zwickau came second with 792.5 points, while the University of Stuttgart came third with 750.8.

The University of Bath was the top UK team, coming fourth with 748.4 points. Thousands of the world’s best young engineers were at Silverstone 8-12 July. There were 135 teams in total, with 49 from the UK and teams from as far afield as Australia, Turkey and Ukraine.

Stijn Pennings, team leader for Team Delft, said: “All the hard work over the past year has paid off, and the whole team has gained invaluable hands-on experience of what is involved in developing a car from start to finish.

I think the key to our win is the extremely light and agile nature of our car. This year, we trimmed weight off the drive-train and also had a one-piece monocoque structure.”

Richard Folkson, president of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (and former chief judge of Formula Student), said: “The calibre of the engineering on display this year was exceptional, and Team Delft were very worthy winners.

Overall, the level keeps improving every year. I am also delighted with the success of the University of Bath, who were the top UK team and had the top score for the endurance test.

"There was a total of three UK teams in this year’s top 10; apart from the University of Bath, Oxford Brookes came sixth — after coming second in the design test — and the University of Birmingham came seventh.”