This summer, the formula team of NMBU, Helix, participated in Formula Student UK. It is an international engineering competition where the goal is to design and build your own formula car.
The prototype resembles a combination of a go-kart and a Formula 1 car. We met Kornelia Rapp (Project Manager) and Eira S. Bakstad (Marketing Manager) at Helix's workshop at NMBU to find out what it is like to be part of Helix, and what the way forward looks like.
A team across different study fields
Helix kicked off in the spring of 2023. The relatively new team has a total of 33 members. Before this year's admission to the team, there are students representing four different faculties across ten different fields of study. Kornelia thinks a little about the different fields of study:
"It's not just engineering and construction students. There are students from urban and regional planning, plant science, lecturer and animal science."
In Helix, you can also join based on interests. You do not have to have technical or professional competence to participate. This is a student team that makes a Formula 1-like car. Although they want to participate in Formula competitions, the goal is also to have fun together and form a solid foundation of knowledge.
Formula Student across six continents
Formula Student is an engineering competition for students. Every summer there are 22 competitions spread over six different continents. Some teams are away for three months while they are out competing in the world. Some of the races are more prestigious than others. You have to go through various tests, with an entrance exam and test in the regulations. The teams are tested in various physics and mathematics tasks. The race in Silverstone, England, is considered the 'easiest'. It is on this track that new teams are encouraged to start.
"But it's not just about motorsport," says Kornelia.
Eira agrees. "All competitions are divided. You have to go through static events and dynamic events. At static, we go through a business plan, then we have custom manufacturing, which involves being able to mass produce, so we must have full control over all the parts. Then we have the design event, where we defend our design. Then there is a lot about project management and the organization as a whole. It is quite comprehensive. In addition to this, there is scrutiny. That's when the judge comes and sees the car."
"Helix is extremely relevant for all the different fields of study. Think trade, marketing, technology and projects," says Kornelia. "We want everyone to be able to join Helix, regardless of background."
Welded the entire frame
The sketch for the car did not take as long as one would have thought. Helix took in members in autumn 2023 and then began concept development. They spent the whole autumn getting ready for the spring, but struggled a bit to find sponsors.
"It is difficult to call a company and convince them that we are going to build a Formula 1 car without experience," laughs Eira.
But, they got a sponsor. In January 2024, they got the first sponsor and were able to buy the first steel pipes. Then they started on the car straight away. The team worked hard to get ready for the Formula Student competition and welded the entire frame to the car themselves. As they secured more sponsors they were able to purchase materials for further production, but most of the work actually took place in June 2024, one month before the competition began at Silverstone.
There were 17 of them who went to England. No one had taken part in Formula Student before, and knew little about what they we're about to compete in. Kornelia says that it was a very pleasant experience.
"It was first an opening ceremony, and many of the teams have been there every single year. Many of the judges actually work within the Formula-1 world, so that's a fun detail. They were very impressed that we had managed to make a car from January to June, so they remembered us."
Although Helix was unfortunately unable to start the car due to a technical failure, the experience at Silverstone was something they have taken with them on the road ahead. In 2025, the plan is to have a brand new car. They have started with the planning and sketching of the car, and will begin assembly as soon as possible.
Get to know students across studies
According to Kornelia and Eira, one of the best things about being part of Helix is meeting different types of people. Even if they are to build a car, the members of Helix spend a lot of time with each other and work. There is a lot of professional sparring and brainstorming.
"We laugh a lot," says Kornelia. "We try out different things. "What do you think about this idea?", or "maybe not and yes, it's really good"."
For Eira, who is marketing manager, it's all about creativity. "I have no framework that I have to deal with. Only the imagination sets the limits. I think it's really fun with the social stuff. That's kind of the essence of Ås. Everything is possible here, and I think that's really fun."
Giving Helix to next year's students
Both Kornelia and Eira want Helix to live on, that the organization will not die out after their Helix generation. They will lay a foundation for the next board. That is why organizational management, structure and organization are important.
"It's a fun challenge," says Eira. "Aksel, who will now be the head of mechanics and production, couldn't do anything last year either, but he made our pedal box. There are very good people here. It's fun learning."
"There are many subjects on campus that are relevant to Helix," explains Kornelia. "He who was project manager last year wrote a master's thesis on the wheel suspension for the car. Then we have someone who is in the fifth grade now, who wants to write a master's degree "on the floor" here at Helix."
Eira agrees. "We use what we learn, and will learn at school in this project. This applies not only to the car, but also within finance and marketing. We carry on a bit of what we learn both at school and in Helix. That's what's nice about Ås."
If you want to read more about Helix, or are wondering about joining next year, you can visit their website here: https://www.helixnmbu.no/kopi-av-the-team