ARUS, you will never race alone

It reaches the top 10 of the Design Event test for the first time in its history

Between July 8 and 13, the 2023 edition of Formula Student Netherlands (FSN) was held at the Assen Circuit, the first competition on the calendar for the ARUS Andalucía Racing , which came from Seville with 29 students from different Centers of the University of Seville , with the aim of testing all the changes made during the season in their new ART 23e single-seater.

Summer was marked by considerable uncertainty for the team, as numerous changes had been implemented on the car compared to the previous year, signaling a clear shift towards a new era focused on developing a competitive electric vehicle. These changes included a new battery, a dashboard display providing the driver with a wealth of useful information, a new aerodynamic package, and rewired components. However, the biggest challenge undoubtedly lay in the team's future, with a redesign planned for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 seasons. This redesign aimed to implement further advancements, both in developing a highly competitive electric car and in tackling the challenge of creating the first electric and autonomous car in Andalusia (Driverless category).

The FSN is a very special competition for both the team, which attended for the first time in 2018, where it won its first trophies in both the Cost and Business events, and for the organization itself, which has always had a special affection for the enthusiasm, the joy, but above all for the fighting and tireless spirit that this team of Andalusians has demonstrated in the Netherlands.

This competition is one of the first events in the Formula Student summer circuit and boasts a prestigious pedigree, attracting the world's best teams to test themselves, knowing it's the toughest on the calendar. Those teams that successfully pass the technical inspections this week and dominate the podiums are sure to be at the top of the rankings in subsequent competitions. The FSN has earned a strong reputation, starting with the limited number of universities admitted (33 in the electric category, 15 in the combustion category, and even one team in the hydrogen category). Among the teams in the category where ARUS competed with its ART23e prototype are some of the world's best universities from Germany, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Sweden, and Switzerland, including UAS Graz, TU Berlin, U Stuttgart, TU Eindhoven, TU Munich, TU Delft, KIT Karlsruhe, U Lund, and TU Dresden, among others. Among the Spanish universities participating in the electric vehicle (EV) category, along with ARUS representing the University of Seville, were the prestigious UPC Terrassa (with over 15 years of experience developing electric cars) and UPC EEBE Barcelona. Also noteworthy was the participation of UC3M Madrid in the combustion vehicle category.

From the very first minute, the members of ARUS knew that it wasn't going to be easy and that nobody would give them anything for free in Dutch lands, and the team gave their maximum performance to overcome the tough technical inspections, which would allow these changes to be validated.

The first test was the “Accumulator,” which verified the compact and safe design of the new high-voltage battery, passing over 300 checkpoints reviewed by the judges. This first challenge was met after two long, marathon days of more than 12 hours each to validate the new battery. While this was happening, the rest of the team continued preparing for the two remaining inspections: “Mechanical” and “Electrical.”.

Once the first challenge was met, they moved on to the second of the two inspections: the electrical one. Passing it would be no easy feat. These two inspections were carried out simultaneously, hampered by the significant bottleneck associated with the rigorous inspection process. The more than 600 points to be checked on the car extended the inspection day until Wednesday night, and it was finally completed the following day. During those interminable days, the team members persevered until the very end, demonstrating the reputation they have earned year after year, competition after competition, among the inspectors and the other teams, who didn't hesitate to help the Seville team in any way they could.

At the end of the competition, the anxious technical inspections of the battery, electrical and mechanical systems were successfully passed, and although it was not possible to take the ART23e out on the track and compete in the dynamic tests, these inspections have a very precious value that is expected to translate into joys in the two remaining competitions throughout the summer in August at Formula Student East in Hungary , and Formula Student Germany in Germany.

To understand the complexity and value of obtaining these inspections, it's enough to emphasize that of the 33 universities in the EV category, only 9 managed to pass the technical inspections and complete some of the dynamic tests: 5 universities completed the Skippad test (4 laps on a small figure-eight circuit), 8 universities completed the Acceleration test (acceleration over a 75-meter section), 7 completed the Autocross test (one lap of the circuit), and only 3 universities finished the Endurance test (22 laps of the Autocross circuit). Of the 33 universities, only 2, UAS Graz and TU Berlin, were able to score points in all the dynamic tests.

On the other hand, in the static tests, the team shone. For the first time in their history, they managed to break into the top 10, rubbing shoulders with the best in Europe in the Design Event, which assesses the design of the single-seater, a feat made all the more impressive by the caliber of the universities they were competing against. However, in the Cost Event, which judges decisions regarding manufacturing and the use of materials, the team narrowly missed out on the final, finishing in fifth place. The Cost and Design tests took place on Tuesday, July 11th, and the team was fortunate to have representatives from the Higher Technical School of Engineering (ETSi) in attendance. Specifically, Francisco Rodríguez-Rubio, who has served as Director of ETSi for the past four years, Andrés Sáez, the current Director, and Alejandro García-Lomas, who has served as Deputy Director of Infrastructure at ETSi, were present. Throughout the competition, Sergio Esteban, Faculty Advisor for Team ARUS and current Delegate of the Rector for the Promotion of Technology Transfer in Educational Innovation, also accompanied the 29 students.

Finally, in the 'Business Plan Presentation', they once again managed to position themselves among the best teams worldwide, achieving a second place that allowed them to leave Holland with another trophy.

The ARUS team has been the top Spanish team across all Electric Vehicle competitions for two consecutive years, and in this FSN competition, they have once again established themselves as the best team in Spain despite their modest budget. This dominance is expected to continue throughout the summer. Now, they simply need recognition in their home region, but especially from institutions like the Andalusian Regional Government and the Seville Provincial Council, which have been seeking financial support for years. This group of young Andalusians will soon realize (they are already well advanced) the development of the first autonomous electric vehicle in Andalusia, and these institutions must be involved to provide financial resources to showcase the research, development, and innovation capabilities that exist in our region, dispelling many stereotypes of the past, because the present and future belong to these young Andalusians.

ARUS is a motorsport team from the University of Seville. Until last year, they designed, manufactured, and validated both a combustion engine and an electric single-seater during the season. However, starting last year, they abandoned the combustion engine category and focused on electric cars, with plans to move into Driverless racing in the near future, where autonomous, driverless cars compete.

In short, ARUS has proven once again to be a team that never gives up and continues to grow year after year, fulfilling dreams on the track and living up to its slogan, 'Race your dreams'. After the demanding FSN competition, the team has two major competitions left (Formula Student East and Formula Student Germany) where they will fight to continue bringing joy to the ARUS fans. They have spoiled us, but if success doesn't come, it won't be for lack of the tireless struggle and determination of these young people who are recognized throughout Europe not only for their joy or their chants, but for their fighting spirit, their tireless work ethic, their drive to solve problems, and their refusal to give up. As one of their most well-known chants says, "Fighting for my team, I'll give it my all" and "We won't stop fighting until the very last moment.".

This renowned project, shared among the most prestigious European universities, is supported by the University of Seville, led by the Higher Technical School of Engineering, where the project originated. Other centers, such as the Higher Polytechnic School and the Higher Technical School of Computer Engineering, have since joined, all recognizing the need to support these students and their potential to train the future leaders of Andalusia. The multidisciplinary nature of the project is also noteworthy, as it involves students from various departments within the University of Seville. In addition to the aforementioned schools, students from the Faculty of Communication, the Faculty of Economics and Business, the Faculty of Mathematics, the Faculty of Physics, and the Faculty of Tourism and Finance are also participating.