2 days ago
Crowdfunding a dream: Bengaluru students build racecar for national event
Bengaluru: Twenty-three engineering students of BR Ambedkar Institute of Technology in the city are racing against time — and budget constraints — to complete their dream project: Building a Formula Student racecar for a national competition next month.
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Saranyu Racing Team, part of the college's sports car club, has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise the final Rs 3 lakh needed to complete the car. Its poster reads: "Help us build more than a car, help shape the next generation of engineers."
The car is being built for the SAE Supra national-level competition, set to take place in Aug at Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida. With an overall budget of Rs 20 lakh, the students have already raised Rs 17 lakh through sponsorships, alumni support, and contributions from the college management.
"We knocked on every possible door. Some alumni not only contributed money but also guided us through technical hurdles. But with the bodywork and component procurement still pending, we turned to crowdfunding," said Yashas M, a 2023 graduate and founding member of the club.
This is the college's second time at the competition. Last year, Saranyu finished 35th in the internal combustion category and eighth in the business plan event, among 70 teams.
It topped the sales presentation and cost evaluation segments, and came second in design reports at FFS India Season 5.
The sports car club, founded in 2022, includes students from all engineering streams and semesters, making it a truly multidisciplinary effort. Ten of the 23 members are women. In Bengaluru, student car clubs are serious business, and the city usually has around 10 colleges regularly participating in competitions.
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In some tier-1 colleges, getting into their clubs is more difficult than cracking their entrance exams.
"We're proud that with limited resources, we can compete with teams from IITs," said Hemang Vishwanath Gowda, a second-year electronics and instrumentation student.
Priyanka K, a second-year electronics and communication student, will drive the car during the dynamic event at the competition. "The adrenaline rush of hitting the tracks makes all the sleepless nights worth it," she said.
College secretary M Mahadeva said: "Our institution believes in empowering students to realise their dreams. This Formula Student car project reflects our commitment to student-led innovation."
