**Download raw footage of the student's road-testing their newly constructed full electric formula-style racing car in the European rain.**
Monash Motorsport – Monash’s student-run auto racing team – returns to the racetrack in the Netherlands this weekend in its first European campaign since it dominated the Formula Student competition in 2018.
The team’s brand new, fully electric, all wheel drive vehicle, codenamed M24, is capable of both driven and autonomous (driverless) racing and represents the culmination of several years of development.
Newly-upgraded and customised features on M24 include a redeveloped carbon fibre monocoque chassis with distinctive aerodynamics, a bespoke battery management system, a state-of-the-art light detection and ranging (LiDAR) remote sensing system and widespread changes to electrical componentry to ensure compliance to European specifications.
Currently ranked eighth in the world, Monash Motorsport will seek to build upon that ranking against top teams from around the globe, as well as maintaining its strong reputation on the European circuit after a prolonged absence.
Racing and other competition events this weekend will take place at TT Circuit Assen, a legendary Dutch motorsport track that has hosted an annual MotoGP race for more than 70 years and is popularly referred to as "The Cathedral of Speed" by motorcycle racing fans.
The Monash team will also be competing in its first ever driverless competitions at FS East (in Hungary) and FS Germany, having become the first Australasian team to successfully demonstrate an integrated driven-driverless vehicle at the recent Australasian competition.
Managed by the UK-based Institution of Mechanical Engineers in partnership with the Society of Automotive Engineers (US), Formula Student is Europe’s major student engineering competition and is widely recognised as a rigorous training platform for young engineers who aspire to work in elite motorsport and automotive innovation.
While performance on the track is important, student teams must also comprehensively demonstrate their skills in engineering design, manufacturing and technical analysis, while also meeting strict specifications, timelines and scrutineering criteria.
Monash Motorsport’s ambitious programs would not be possible without the support of its Platinum Sponsors – including Clenergy, Calm Aluminium, FormASign, HiTech Metrology, Formero, Leap Australia, MCAM, PhoenxPLM, SMC, Vacuumschmelze, South West Kart Club, Hayman Reese, Gippsland Car Club and PEARL – who have collectively contributed more than $200,000 towards the team’s activities in 2024.
Additionally, high profile donors and supporters include Dr Alan Finkel AC, former Chancellor of Monash University and Australia’s Chief Scientist (2016-2020), and Motorsport Australia, who actively support the team’s future development and growth.
Monash Motorsport social media channels:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monashmotorsport
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monashmotorsport
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoDdlx_MpzlK9FFOOSWujsQ
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/monash-motorsport/
For more Monash media stories visit our news and events site: monash.edu/news
For any other topics on which you may be seeking expert comment, contact the Monash University Media Unit on +61 3 9903 4840 or media@monash.edu
