It took countless hours of work on and off the track, but the ANU Formula Sport team has wrapped up a successful season. Photo: Katelyn Czubara.
It was a “pretty special” moment for Fynn Penny when he saw his race car take to the track for the first time.
The 2024 technical lead for ANU Formula Sport, a student-run team that designs, builds and races a formula-style open-wheeled race car, was simply over the moon.
“Seeing the videos of that [first drive], and seeing that car that had sat in a workshop for two years – not looking much like a car – was kind of surreal,” he said.
An iteration of the student-led team formed in 2020, and following in the footsteps of the first Australia National University (ANU) crew of the mid-2000s, the 2024 mission was to enter the Formula SAE Australasia competition at Calder Park Raceway near Melbourne.
Long-time motorsport fan and fellow team member Katelyn Czubara said there was some trial and error as they worked on their car.
“When we first started the team, a lot of us were first-year engineering students and there was a massive learning curve,” she said.
“They’ve just come out of high school, they don’t have a lot of experience. They go straight from learning how to build bridges out of Paddle Pop sticks – which is what I did – to building a car.”
While the students bought an engine for the car, much of the design, construction and testing was done by hand.
“Basically almost everything else – everything that we could do – is custom-made in the ANU workshop,” Fynn said.
“We’re very lucky to have a very big and pretty well-equipped workshop!”
Katelyn, also a member of the business team which drove marketing and business sponsorship through 2024, said it was a team effort.
“Whenever I see the car racing, I’m pointing out all the bits I manufactured,” she said.
“I’ve always been a big fan of motorsport – that’s why I joined the team in the first place – and I’m really glad I was able to do an extracurricular activity where I was able to contribute to that hobby.”
In December, the team’s hard work was put to the test in competition.
And what a result! The crew brought home several awards and trophies, finishing first in the cost and acceleration events as well as second in the auto-cross and endurance events.
It was also awarded the Inspiring Motorsport Award, issued by Motorsport Australia, for its resilience in overcoming challenges to get the car on the track.
And the team isn’t hitting the brakes any time soon.
In the new year, it plans to build its car in one year, rather than the three-year period used to complete the 2024 entry.
“Hopefully, for our next car we will be able to learn a lot from the mistakes [we made with] the previous car, and build on it,” Fynn said.
“[We want to] pass on what we’ve learned to members joining next year [in 2025] and beyond.”
See more information on ANU Formula Sport, including how you can get involved as a participant or sponsor, at the team’s website.
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