Renault F1 Team’s Bob Bell Gives Backing to Europe’s Biggest Student Motorsport Event

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) has announced a new ambassador for Formula Student (FS) 2010. Renault F1 Team Managing Director, Bob Bell, has become the latest to offer his expertise and support to Europe's biggest educational motorsport event. Formula Student is run by the IMechE to challenge the next generation of engineers to drive a single-seater racing car they have designed and built from scratch. The aim of the competition is to help students develop academic, vocational and practical engineering skills and training that is considered essential by industry experts for students hoping to pursue a career in F1 or motorsport. The partnership augment FS's collaboration with a number of well respected and high profile organisations supporting the 2010 competition including Shell, Airbus in the UK, E.ON UK, Cenex, Autodesk, National Instruments and The MathWorks. This year FS will benefit from Bob Bell's experience and expertise, as he brings 30 years of motorsport experience to his role as an ambassador of FS 2010. Prior to working for the Renault F1 Team, he has worked for Formula One heavyweights including McLaren International, Benetton Formula, and the Jordan Grand Prix. Bell also played an integral role in the Renault F1 Team's back to back world championship successes in 2005 and 2006.  Bob Bell, MD of Renault F1 Team, said: "I feel very privileged to be become an FS Ambassador, given its outstanding success in promoting competitive engineering at an international level. Few other forms of professional engineering offer such an opportunity to young engineers, and its educational benefits are of significance over a very wide engineering domain."  Formula Student attracts entries from universities all over the world. This year teams from countries including Australia, Canada, India, Sweden and Croatia will all take part in the five-day event at Silverstone on 14 - 18 July. At the event FS cars undergo a series of dynamic tests such as acceleration, sprint, skid-pad, endurance and fuel economy. Students are also tested on design, presentation and cost assessment elements.  FS will once again run its low carbon category of Class 1A cars which allows teams to develop new and novel powertrain technologies, resulting in race cars with low carbon emissions.  For further information please visit www.formulastudent.com Institution of Mechanical Engineers 1 Birdcage Walk, London SW1H 9JJ T: 020 7304 6835/6888 E: s_mowlabaccus@imeche.org or media@imeche.org  W: www.imeche.org