IIT Bombay builds F1 car

By Nimisha Srivastava, Network 18

Students at IIT Bombay have built a formula-racing car for an international competition to be held in the US in May. And guess who was present to unveil this unique effort? The fastest Indian on wheels, Narain Karthikeyan...

It was 10 months ago in June 2007 that a couple of IIT Bombay students decided to enter the international competition called Formula SAE, short for Society of Automative Engineers and the task at hand was to build a race car.

Professor Amarnath, Faculty Advisor, IIT, said, “It was great how these students got together and started working on something that they had no idea about...

And so these 30 odd students armed with textbooks, a supportive faculty and some helpful advice from automobile manufacturers have come a long way, to the point that the tightening of a screw here and the testing of a pedal there; is all that is left to do.

These spirited youngsters will be the only Indians participating in this prestigious international competition to be held in Detroit - the Mecca of the international automobile industry..

The 11 budding engineers who will represent IIT Bombay at the competition are ecstatic...

Shyam, SAE Formula participant, said, “We aim to compete with the best in the world and experience some great engineering.

And finally the moment they had all been waiting for; the official unveiling of IIT Bombay's Formula racing car and who better to do it than India's own F1 champion!

Narain Karthikeyan, Indian car racer, said, “In the last few years, the sport has been getting more popular...and this will give more exposure.

And with Narain's best wishes, this vehicle is truly revved up to win the race.