Kenji's Blog

Blog for Dr Kenji Takeda at the University of Southampton. Find out about what he's up to in aerodynamics, aircraft noise, flight simulation and Formula One teaching, research and schools outreach. Also see what's going on in the School of Engineering Sciences at the University of Southampton.

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Greenpower Final nailbiter!

On a sunny Sunday it was amazing to see 75 cars on the start line at Goodwood Motor Circuit for the Greenpower Formula 24 National Final. Teams from all around the UK lined up with their electric racing demons, ready for the 6 hour Le Mans style marathon. The racing was close and fierce, ending up as a three horse race between reigning champion Turbo Tortoise, and the challenging Slippery Trug and The Phoenix. The Weald School's Slippery Trug managed to cross the line in first place, ending Furze Platt's impressive double championship wins from 2004-5! I had the pleasure of presenting the new University of Southampton Aerodynamics Innovation Award to Seaford College, for their impressive Phoenix car. The name comes from the fact that it was almost destroyed in a spectacular crash two weeks previously. Hats off to the team for not only making it to the final, but climbing from the back of the grid up to third place. The Seaford College team will be testing Phoenix in our RJ MItchell wind tunnel as part of their prize. They'll be able to see what it is like to be an aerodynamicist, testing in the wind tunnel used by many Formula One teams and the likes of Adrian Newey and Mike Gascoyne. Well done to everyone for a fantastic season and finale. Find out more about Greenpower, including how to take part, at www.greenpower.co.uk As official technical sponsors, the University of Southampton has put together some tips and educational material about race car aerodynamics, check out http://www.soton.ac.uk/ses/outreach/greenpower/index.html