Summary
A platform for motorsports enthusiasts to showcase their talents
Gujarat Technological University and Pimpri Chinchwad College of Engineering winners of the 2022 edition
Young motorsport enthusiasts can zoom into Formula Bharat, an extension of Formula Student — an international competition hosted in India by Curiosum Tech.
Formula Bharat 2022 was held from January 21 to 25 at the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore. Gujarat Technological University finished first in the Combustion category, Pimpri Chinchwad College of Engineering, Pune, emerged as winners in the Electric category.
In compliance with classroom principles, this competition also spurs students to develop their cognitive, analytical, and creative minds. Since its inception in 2016, five on-ground and one virtual edition (2021) have taken place.
Formula Bharat 2022
The 2022 edition saw two parallel formats of the competition — the Formula Bharat Virtuals (FBV) and the on-site event. Modifying the on-ground competition levels to suit a digital atmosphere, 45 teams brainstormed on design and business models. They took part in business planning, designing and engineering, cost and manufacturing. On ground teams, 28 teams cleared technical inspection and participated in the various rounds that tested the working of the sportscars.
Some of the institutions that took part in this edition include Aligarh Muslim University, Uttar Pradesh; Amity School of Engineering and Technology, Noida; Delhi Technological University; Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay; and Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Nagpur. They were judged on the basis of acceleration that tested the speed of the vehicle, autocross that tested the directional flexibility, efficiency and endurance.
Switching online
When the pandemic struck, Curiosum Tech had to determine how to keep operations running given the restrictions on public events and campuses closing down. “Our goal for the season switched to keeping the ‘spirit’ of Formula Student alive and enabling a smooth transition of knowledge transfer within student teams. The latter was important to prevent the case of students starting from scratch with no prior lessons learned being transitioned,” said Cathy Dsouza, director, Curiosum Tech.
Zoom, Gather and YouTube came to the rescue, connecting like-minded students and industry experts. The Academy also arranged for expert knowledge sessions, which ranged from mental health to team management and designing sessions. These sessions helped in expanding and retaining the student base in times of uncertainty.
The Formula Bharat team set up calls with student teams from various institutions to understand the problems faced by them. They also made provisions for networking events where teams, volunteers and sponsors interacted with each other.
Other events
Apart from the competitions, Formula Bharat also offers events like Formula Bharat Academy, Formula Student Electric Vehicle Concept Challenge and Rev-it.
While Formula Bharat Academy is a series of expert sessions, Formula Student Electric Vehicle Concept Challenge sees students digitally prepare a prototype of a vehicle in keeping with the guidelines provided to them. They are marked on design, team management, software and engineering presentations. It was hosted virtually for the first time in 2020 and remained virtual in 2021 as well.
Rev-it is a virtual race simulation platform for those who missed the opportunity on the ground. It started in 2021. Created in partnership with IReSports, the digitally created environment resembling race tracks and cars. This brings back the thrill of on-ground racing.
Coming up
Formula Bharat 2023 is scheduled for January 21 to 25, 2023, at the Kari Motor Speedway, Coimbatore. Registration for the same will be open to national and international teams from May 2022 onwards.
If you are a student or a recent graduate with interest in the field and eager to volunteer, you can apply at www.formulabharat.com/volunteer.
Last updated on 16 Feb 2022
