The Fachhochschule Dortmund racing team will be competing in Formula 3 from 2025, the team announced in an internal FH press release. The team has also announced a cooperation with a well-known sports car manufacturer.
Correction April 2: The editorial team has received new information that sheds a different light on the facts mentioned in this article. According to current facts, the entire announcement of the switch to Formula 3 is fictitious, according to Prof. Dr. April S. Cherz, spokesperson for the laughing section.
"After our successes last season, we realized that Formula Student was no longer enough for us," explains assembly manager Daniel Jovanovic. The team is now working on the new racing car in parallel with preparations for the current Formula Student season, the last in this class. The first simulations are underway and the basic calculations are being prepared.
Rector Prof. Dr. Tamara Appel gives the green light for the decision: "The Rectorate of Fachhochschule Dortmund supports this promising student project to the best of its ability and out of conviction." Prof. Dr. Dominic F. Ast from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering adds: "Anyone who knows our racing team knows that these young people are as powerful as Tesla coils and as hot as exhaust silencers after the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It's only logical that the team shifts into the next gear in terms of competition."
Technical challenge
The team has to design a completely new vehicle for the new racing class. The standard specifications are: a six-cylinder petrol engine with a capacity of 3.4 liters and 280 kW (380 hp) at 8000 rpm. The chassis also has little in common with the current racing car of the "Rhino Two" racing team and is significantly larger with a minimum wheelbase of 2 meters and a minimum track width of 120 centimeters.
"This is a highly challenging task for the students," emphasizes Prof. F. Ast. "But also one that gives them a huge boost in terms of their technical skills." The new challenge also has interdisciplinary implications. "Amazing synergies have been created throughout the university," reports Head of Construction Daniel Jovanovic. "We were able to build a top team of students from the Faculties of Design, Business Studies, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. We would particularly like to thank Fachhochschule Dortmund, which gave us its full support right from the start."