CAT Racing reaps success at the Formula Student East

The CAT team with a crew of seven members set off for Hungary on July 16. The team was understaffed almost across the board due to the fact that the examination period was still underway. Some members were only able to arrive later or had to depart earlier.

The first team members reached their destination in Zalaegersek on the Tuesday morning after a journey of some eleven hours and started setting up the pit. After mechanical acceptance testing, a tilt table test that went smoothly, and successful checking of the electronic throttle valve, CAT Racing was able to complete the Wednesday with the noise test. In the tilt table test, the team also found out the official weight of its vehicle for the first time. The C-18 Ozelot weighs in at a lean 178.8 kg. That meant it was below the team’s target weight for the 2018 season.

On the Thursday, technical acceptance was completed with the brake test and the team used the test track to prepare the C-18 and its pilots for the dynamic disciplines on the weekend. Final preparations for the static disciplines – the business plan, cost and manufacturing and engineering design – were also made. The team faced them the very next morning and accomplished them in style. The judges’ feedback was very satisfactory and was noted down for the next events.

There was a flurry of activity on the Saturday. The teams completed the first two acceleration runs very early in the day, clocking a best time of 4.053 seconds, and then proceeded directly to the skid pad. The first CAT driver immediately set the best time of the day (4.8575 seconds). The afternoon saw AutoX, which is also the qualifying discipline for the endurance race. The weather was very changeable and the team tried to send both pilots out onto the track in the best possible conditions. And the results were very pleasing! CAT Racing secured fifth place on the grid on the Sunday with a best time of 60,876 seconds.

After a final check, the team warmed up the engine, fueled the car and then lined up right away. However, there were worries about the weather, as the clouds gathered and a storm was forecast. The C-18 produced one top time after the other and the vehicle data, which can be monitored using the telemetry system, looked good. The Ozelot was able to take a breather during the driver’s change after twelve laps, while the scrutineers conducted a brief appraisal. The second pilot was able to start without any delay. He also completed his twelve laps without problems and the C-18 Ozelot crossed the finishing line just in time, clocking 1357.022 seconds overall. While the team was celebrating completing the endurance race and the Ozelot was being pushed to another technical acceptance test and to be fueled, the storm broke over the event site. After the race was called off, all teams had to evacuate the pits within an hour. Nevertheless, all the teams gathered safe and sound for the award ceremony in the evening at the camp site, where CAT Racing finally learned the pleasing results. The team came first in three out of the eight disciplines, chalking up a total of 885.7 out of a possible 1,000 points and so capturing second spot.