The 2011 Ryerson Formula SAE Car – The RF11

This year promises to be a big step for the Ryerson Formula Team. Together with our new system leaders and a new management team, our team members taking on more challenging designs. The 2012 season promises to be that unlike any before it.

As production of the car is commencing, what exactly does Ryerson Formula SAE have planned for the year ahead and what can we expect in this year’s car?

To start, nearly everything on the car is new! From nose to tail, and head to foot.

In the team’s first design meeting of the year a couple of weeks ago, a methology was derived where certain aspects of the car’s lively hood would be more important than others, and a ranking system was put in place.

Key areas

• Safety
• Performance
• Reliability
• Weight

Items to look forward too

Engine: The engine will be looked at closely to see where the appropriate power gains can be made. Specifically a new air intake will make for a key benefit this year

Drivetrain: Together with a newly designed drivetrain, the use of titanium and other lightweight materials will decrease weight once again while remaining strong and reliable. Also, more new gear ratios are a possibility to alter the cars acceleration times

Chassis: With new rules being implemented, the chassis is currently being redesigned to comply, but also to provide a more ergonomic area for the driver to sit while remaining rigid and lightweight

Suspension: The new suspension system is currently being designed. Learning from our errors from the past, the new suspension will provide a robust and reliable system.

Electrical: A new ECU will provide better feedback from the car during testing and race conditions while also enhancing the fine tuning of the engines mapping capabilities.

Stay tuned as weekly picture updates will be arriving soon