At the end of 2011, students of the Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences (THI) combine together to develop an electric racing car. By the summer of 2012, the "Schanzer Racing Electric" (SRE) team, supported by BFFT, celebrates its debut with a sensational 8th placing in the Formula Student at the Hockenheimring. In 2014, they are once again placed 8th at this race.
Student teams from all over the world participate in this constructors' competition. They plan, construct and test their own racing car (in the Formula Student Electric with an electric power unit), which becomes thoroughly tested out to its basics in several competitions. Only those teams which pass the initial technical tests can participate in the subsequent dynamic and statical events. There, teams e.g. compete in acceleration racing trials or have to present a business plan to a specialist jury.
Since its first participation in 2012, SRE has consistently been placed within the top 10 teams in the world rankings. The partnership between the automotive engineering developer BFFT from Ingolstadt and SRE has grown continuously together with each season of onward development of the racing car concept. BFFT has been supporting the students as the only one of three main sponsors since the setting up of the team. Alongside a financial allowance, the automotive specialist has been making its know-how available to the team. Each year, the students visit the modern BFFT Headquarters in Ingolstadt to construct the high voltage battery for the new racing car. They can use the technical equipment in the various workshops and get support of the BFFT experts. "The technical collaboration with BFFT is quite unique - no other team has this advantage", states SRE Team Captain Markus Fracaro.
For BFFT, collaboration with SRE is also profitable: The positive effects for brand image and awareness are regularly confirmed in surveys conducted among THI students. In addition, there is direct access to well educated, motivated students, for whom BFFT represents an attractive employer during and after their studies. To date, there have been 12 SRE members as works' students, interns or trainees at BFFT. BFFT CEO Markus Fichtner, himself an enthusiastic SRE fan, confirms: "The collaboration with SRE is something more than just a sponsorship. It has developed over the years into a friendly partnership." Both parties are planning to expand the collaborative activities during the coming years.
Student teams from all over the world participate in this constructors' competition. They plan, construct and test their own racing car (in the Formula Student Electric with an electric power unit), which becomes thoroughly tested out to its basics in several competitions. Only those teams which pass the initial technical tests can participate in the subsequent dynamic and statical events. There, teams e.g. compete in acceleration racing trials or have to present a business plan to a specialist jury.
Since its first participation in 2012, SRE has consistently been placed within the top 10 teams in the world rankings. The partnership between the automotive engineering developer BFFT from Ingolstadt and SRE has grown continuously together with each season of onward development of the racing car concept. BFFT has been supporting the students as the only one of three main sponsors since the setting up of the team. Alongside a financial allowance, the automotive specialist has been making its know-how available to the team. Each year, the students visit the modern BFFT Headquarters in Ingolstadt to construct the high voltage battery for the new racing car. They can use the technical equipment in the various workshops and get support of the BFFT experts. "The technical collaboration with BFFT is quite unique - no other team has this advantage", states SRE Team Captain Markus Fracaro.
For BFFT, collaboration with SRE is also profitable: The positive effects for brand image and awareness are regularly confirmed in surveys conducted among THI students. In addition, there is direct access to well educated, motivated students, for whom BFFT represents an attractive employer during and after their studies. To date, there have been 12 SRE members as works' students, interns or trainees at BFFT. BFFT CEO Markus Fichtner, himself an enthusiastic SRE fan, confirms: "The collaboration with SRE is something more than just a sponsorship. It has developed over the years into a friendly partnership." Both parties are planning to expand the collaborative activities during the coming years.
