Ecurie Aix - Formula Student Team RWTH Aachen e.V.

University	Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
Homepage	http://www.ecurie-aix.rwth-aachen.de
Email	info(at)ecurie-aix.rwth-aachen.de
Team Captain	Valeri Kirsch Ines Hasenkamp Helena Heuser
City	Aachen
Country	Germany
FSE Team	Ecurie Aix Formula Student Team RWTH Aachen e.V.

Team Description

Ecurie Aix, the Formula Student Team at the RWTH Aachen University, consists of roughly 50 students studying Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration and Technical Communication.
Maybe you are wondering why a German team has a French name. Here is the answer: Aachen is at the border triangle of Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands in a region called Rheinland. Racing has a history in this region: Many German Formula 1 drivers were born in this region and race tracks like the Nürburgring or Spa-Francorchamps are within a one-hour drive. Furthermore, our neighbour, Belgium, had a very successful team named "Ecurie Francorchamps". From this name we adopted "Ecurie", the French for "stable".
Ecurie Aix’ first participation in the Formula Student Competition dates back to the year 2002 with our first race car EAC01.
After gaining first experiences in this competition, the concept for the second car EAC02 was drastically changed. The main changes were a carbon-fibre monocoque, a three-cylinder in-line engine especially build for Formula Student by MAHLE and a student-designed cone-ring CVT designed by the GIF (Gesellschaft für Industrieforschung Aachen).
A lot of time was spent on the development and implementation of these innovative components into the second car which participated at the Detroit and Bruntingthorpe events in 2004.
The 2006 car, the EAC03, is an improved version of the EAC02 in to which 2 years of development have been invested. A lighter version of the monocoque was constructed and crash tests were used to confirm our demanding safety standards. To ensure the reliability and to decrease the weight of our sophisticated drive train, it was subjected to further development.
Our next car was the EAC04, which carried on the improvements of its
predecessors enhancing their strengths and lessens their weaknesses. Carried by a magnesium housing the CVT lost a significant amount of weight, the engine is charged by a turbo and our frame construction consists of a lighter CFK monocoque. The EAC04 is the first Ecurie Aix car constructed and manufactured in only a one year period.
For 2008 we developed the EAC05, our fith car. With his Suzuki-GSX-R engine and a usualy gearbox it was a huge step for the team. And our bravery of important chances has been sucsesfully by showing the sixteens place in FSG2008. For 2009 we will develope the EAC06.
Just like many teams it is our spare time we dedicate to this project, sitting in front of CAD-programs or in the machine shop, finding new solutions and working late shifts. We do this with enthusiasm because this project is a unique opportunity to gather experience which is not provided by lectures and it is such an overwhelming feeling to see your own car drive. The interdisciplinary teamwork, project management and contacts with companies are all challenging parts of the project.
And last but definitely not least: Lots of fun, putting the pedal to the metal. We all have gasoline in our veins and we are looking forward to meet others just like us from all over the world!