In the fast lane

Updated on: Monday, September 13, 2010

Love motor sports? Here’s a good news for all enthusiasts who want to make a career in this field. The University of Southampton’s School of Engineering Sciences has invited applications for its unique M.Sc. course in Race Car Aerodynamics. This is said to be the world’s only course dedicated to race car aerodynamics and is the most sought after qualification in motor sport.

The programme is aimed at graduates and similarly qualified individuals from engineering, scientific and mathematical backgrounds, and interested in specialising in aerodynamics. The course focuses on analysis computation and measurement of turbulent flows associated with high-performance race cars. Says Dr Alan Chambers, a senior lecturer and undergraduate admissions tutor at the University of Southampton’s School of Engineering Sciences, “We think it is unique. We have over 50 years of working with F1 mainly because of our wind tunnels. Adrian Newey, the chief designer of Red Bull F1, is a Southampton Aero graduate. The skills taught apply to all other high performance transport designs.”

The core modules include applications of CFD, experimental techniques for aerodynamics, geometry and grid generation, numerical methods, race car aerodynamics, race car design/GDP, turbulence I: physics and measurement, and turbulence II: computation and modelling. The course also offers two optional modules chosen from applied aerodynamics or fluids and waves, and flow control or wing aerodynamics.

Developed by Professor Xin Zhang in conjunction with F1 technical directors and aerodynamicists, the postgraduation course is based on the extensive ground-effect aerodynamics research programme at Southampton. This research is widely regarded as providing benchmark understanding of wing, diffuser and wheel aerodynamics. Students work in teams to design a whole race car with computational fluid dynamics, and perform wind tunnel lab classes on an F1 car and projects with industry. The course starts in October and eight students are admitted each year. It is a full time one-year course.

Candidates wishing to enrol on the course should have an honours degree in engineering, mathematics or a science-based subject. Those with employment experience will also be considered. Applications for the course will be accepted until the course begins. The fee for students for the 2010-11 session is £13,900. For more information log on to: www.soton.ac.uk/ses/courses.

In the fast lane

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