News | Cape Speed Road Show

Monday, 29 October 2012

The 2012 Formula Student competition may be over but CPUT’S Cape Speed team are still hard at work.

The group, who made history by becoming the first university team from Africa to complete all stages of the competition, spent the past few weeks showcasing the formula one car at schools across the Western Cape.

The road show was organised by the BTech Public Relations class and ran throughout October.

The team not only showed-off their impressive formula one car, but gave learners an overview of the courses on offer at the university’s Engineering Faculty.

Engineering lecturer Felicity Harris says the formula one car was also on display at the university’s Bellville and Cape Town campuses. 

 “The idea is to spark interest in the project and competition,” says Harris.

An annual competition, it draws students from across the globe who battle it out on the racing track in formula one cars, which they designed and built. This year saw teams compete at Silverstone in the United Kingdom.

The road show also included a brunch event at the Bellville campus, which allowed the Cape Speed team to acknowledge their sponsors and supporters.

Student Rushdia Benjamin says the team’s achievement would not have been possible without the support of their lecturers, which include Associate Prof Oscar Philander, Eugene Erfort, Morne Riddles and Harris.

CPUT is planning to compete in the 2014 Formula Student competition and will recruit a new team early next year.

By Candes Keating