QUT Motorsport Unveils Rolling Chassis

COVID-19 presented unprecedented obstacles for so many over the past few months. As a team who not only consider each other valued colleagues, but close friends, we understand the difficulties of not being able to see those who we care about and work with closely. Our hearts go out to all those who have been affected by the pandemic. 

Despite the challenges of not being able to access our motorsport lab on campus over the past few months, gather regularly for our team meetings and work times throughout each week, our members have been more dedicated than ever to reach existing targets.

One of many goals included the completion of this year’s chassis by mid-year. On Wednesday 8 July, QUT Motorsport team unveiled its rolling chassis for 2020 with a carbon fibre monocoque design; the first from a Formula Student (FSAE) team in Queensland.

Despite slightly missing the original deadline by only one week, the team are still incredibly proud of the achievement, producing the chassis in just four weeks.

QUT Motorsport Team Principal, Luke McCallum said: “The whole design concept for this car started back in January during our annual Design Camp where we have around 40 students in all different faculties from engineering disciplines all the way through to business working together to try and get the design and business side of the team as far forward as we can.”

The team has been incredibly fortunate this year to be partnered with LSM Advanced Composites, Australian American Racing (AAR), Laser Central and Calm Aluminium. Our accomplishments would simply not have been possible if it weren’t for their ongoing support.

Our chassis team spent two weeks at LSM Composites in Toowoomba producing the chassis itself which was an incredible learning experience for our members and an opportunity to utilise some highly advanced and world-leading technology.

QUT Motorsport, former Aerodynamics lead, Isaac Baldry said that to go from the concept in January to having a rolling chassis with our carbon monocoque in July is a really short turn around.

“The chassis team and chassis leads were working extremely hard through that time doing all of our SES testing weighing up different types of panel constructions, core materials, fibre orientations and types and were able to get through that process fairly quickly to come up with a design.”

“Through that design we had to make a few concessions with the shape of the chassis to make sure it could be done with the folded aluminium mould, but we were still able to incorporate some new design direction with the shape of this year’s car."

“One of the most notable being the raised nose which allows us to extend the length of the bottom wishbones to underneath the front of the chassis, it’s also slightly better for ergonomics for the driver and also allowed us to take the steering rack from inside the cockpit to underneath in a recess to allow for a safer area for the drivers legs and easier Egress.”

Photos by Alison Powell

We as a team believe that the steps we took over this difficult period, including successfully moving all of our meetings online, have ensured we would be able to continue our work as best we could to meet existing deadlines.

For our executives and team leads, the project management aspect has presented its own unique challenges including receiving regular updates, consultations and taking part in meetings with members. This was rectified by the consistent use of Zoom to conduct all of our regular sub-team, Leadership and Weekly Team meetings including those that contributed to the final design decisions for our chassis this year.

The team is continuing the awesome momentum and is aiming to have our car completely fit and finished by the end of August ready for its final launch in mid-September.

Alison Powell

Media Coordinator