The youth enters the race

Start of the 3rd VDI Racing Camp powered by norelem

Who will come out on top? Will it be the Speeding Scientists from Siegen, Rennstall Esslingen, or HorsePower Hannover? For the optimal preparation and support of student racing teams from all over Germany, norelem once again takes the lead as the main sponsor of the VDI Racing Camp in Münsterland this year.

A total of 19 out of 25 teams will participate with their electric vehicles, which they have designed as part of the Formula Student Electric (FSE) competition. In this design contest, the goal is to build a formula vehicle for a "weekend race driver." The fictional assignment calls for an annual, cost-effective production of 1000 vehicles. Only enrolled students are allowed to actively work on the vehicle's design, layout, manufacturing, and operation. The Racing Camp 2023 expects a total of 300 students and alumni. The latter are responsible for the organization and evaluation of the disciplines. Like in 2022, the 3rd VDI Racing Camp powered by norelem will take place on the premises of LaSiSe, the Research and Technology Center for Cargo Securing in Selm, Münsterland - an ideal location, as it examines the interaction between different driving situations and various load conditions on a daily basis across 123,500 square meters.

Optimally prepared with norelem

The norelem preparation event provides participants with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the disciplines of Scrutineering, Dynamics, and Statics.

During Scrutineering (technical inspection), the vehicle's essential safety features are examined. If this part is passed, teams are allowed to use the dynamics areas to test driving behavior and forces (Dynamics). Sections for Acceleration (accelerating on a 75-meter straight track) and a Skidpad (handling in curves at a constant radius) are integrated into the course and can be driven if needed. Static disciplines include the Design Report on the car (technical implementation) and the Cost Report (cost analysis for the production of the 1000 race cars) of the teams, as well as the presentation of the business plan before a jury.

Youth promotion in numbers

As early as 2016, norelem organized such a preparatory event for the first time. The norelem Race Camp continued in the following two years and witnessed a rapid increase in the number of participants and vehicles - from 175/10 (2016) to 485/30 in the peak year of 2018. After the COVID-19 break, the "comeback" was achieved in 2022 with 200 participants. Since 2019, VDI has been organizing the event, with norelem as the main sponsor. norelem has been committed to youth promotion for years and provides significant support to Formula Student teams, with 54 Formula Student teams in Germany and 42 international teams in the current 2023/24 season benefiting from free norelem components and supportive know-how to implement their exciting projects.