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Hull Electric Racing Team

Imagine being part of a team that builds its own single-seater racing car and competes at the famous Silverstone Circuit.

As an engineering student at Hull, you’ll get the chance to join the student-led Hull Electric Racing Team (HERT) and compete in the prestigious Formula Student competition.

Formula Student

Organised by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), Formula Student is Europe's most established educational engineering competition and is backed by industry and high-profile engineers.

Each year, university teams from around the globe travel to Silverstone to compete in static and dynamic events that test their preparation, hard work and engineering skills to the limit.

The University of Hull has been competing in Formula Student since 2010. In 2019 the Hull team celebrated its best-ever finish at Silverstone. The team recently changed its name from Hull University Formula Student Team (HUFS) to HERT to reflect its decision to switch to an electric powered car, mirroring real-world trends in vehicle electrification. The team hopes to have the conversion from petrol to electric fully completed by July 2023.

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Formula Student race day.

Latest technology

As a member of the HERT, you’ll have access to state-of-the-art simulators to develop a winning car and hone your engineering and driving skills.

The £100,000 investment allows the team to compete against other universities in virtual races as well as programme in race circuits and try out different scenarios to fine-tune their car on track days.

On race days, data can be gathered from the vehicle to send back to a team of engineers at the University, who can run live tests and direct adjustments to the car in real time.

Built by UK-company Axsim, the simulator uses the latest technology to help create the sensation of G-Force experienced by F1 drivers.

The simulators are formed from a real F1 mould which positions the driver in the exact seating position of a real formula car. The steering wheel and hydraulic pedals are configured to communicate with the software for a true-to-life experience.

The seat and belts have pneumatic pressure modules to provide sustained g-cueing. Multiple airbags expand and contract to provide sustained pressure, simulating the g-forces felt when cornering, braking and accelerating.

Billed by the manufacturers as 'as close as you can get to the real thing', The technology behind it was developed to train fighter pilots and has been supplied to F1 teams and professional drivers.

Hull Electric Racing Team
Hull Electric Racing Team

Formula Student aims to develop enterprising and innovative young engineers and to encourage more young people to take up careers in engineering. Joining HERT will allow you to pursue your passion in engineering and develop transferable skills such as teamwork, communication and decision making - qualities highly valued by employers looking to recruit the next generation of engineers. In the past, the team has been given advice from one of the country's leading F1 engineers. Hull graduate David Mylett spent time with the team when he visited the University to talk to students about his career in Formula 1. Dave is the structural analysis group leader at Red Bull Advanced Technologies and led the team of engineers on Aston Martin’s world-leading hyper car, the Valkyrie.

HERT welcomes students from all subject areas. To get involved, contact Professor Ben Hughes, Head of Department of Engineering.

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Jasmine Tolson, Team Principal, Hull Electric Racing Team
The University of Hull has been competing in Formula Student since 2010 and recently enjoyed its most successful year ever.

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