WR450F ENGINE WEDGED INTO TRACK CAR

University of Auckland Formula SAE

The University of Auckland race car team, FSAE:47, are currently in the final stages of preparing their 2009 car -the M09 - for competition in Australia in December. The team consists of approximately 30 students, who each year partake in the Formula SAE challenge, competing against teams from rival Universities from around the world. Each team must design, build and race their car themselves, as well as fund the team by sourcing sponsorship.


The M09's power train is a design departure from previous years and sees the car running on a highly modified single cylinder Yamaha WR450 with a custom crankcase. Early testing has shown the M09 to be incredibly competitive, showing improvements on the already impressive M08’s performance. The monocoque has returned from paint and is looking fantastic. All that remains now is to fine tune and test the car and get it into tip top shape ahead of the competition.


Last year the team placed 2nd in the design event, outperforming top teams from Australia, Germany and Japan, and with the progress made this year we have high hopes of achieving even better results. For more info please visit our website www.fsae.co.nz.

Words & Images: Bryan Wiggill