Monocoque'd and Loaded

c0019317
Apr 30
3 min read

Updated: May 1

With competition season fast approaching, SHU Racing has made major strides across all areas of the car. Our brand-new carbon fibre monocoque chassis is now complete, marking a huge step forward in performance and manufacturing capability. Alongside it, the electrical loom has been finalised, and the powertrain unit is fully assembled and ready for installation.

Off the car, the team has also been active in outreach and engagement. We proudly represented SHU Racing at both the Formula Student Yorkshire Meetup and Get up to Speed at Magna, connecting with industry professionals, students, and supporters while showcasing the engineering behind our 2025 build.

Powertrain

Since the manufacture of our new exhausts, we’ve treated it with a ThermoHold ceramic from one of our sponsors Zircotec. Many thanks for the excellent speed and quality of service! We’ve also had our freshly serviced engine up and running back in the SR14 to take the car to dyno for testing, troubleshooting and tuning. Thanks to Race Dyno Tuning for supporting and making this possible. The powertrain unit is now ready to be transferred to the new SR15 chassis.

Chassis

SHU Racing is proud to debut an all-new carbon fibre monocoque chassis, weighing just 25.5kg. This marks a significant step forward in our pursuit of performance, the new mono is both stiffer and lighter than the previous year’s. Manufactured with support from our long-term partner DJ Race cars, the monocoque represents a major milestone in our team’s development capabilities.

Vehicle Dynamics

A key update is upgrading our front callipers from 2 pot to 4 pots, offering improved clamping force and heat management under repeated heavy braking. In collaboration with new master cylinders and a redesigned pedal box, modulation and consistency are predicted to improve across a range of braking conditions.

The updated system should not only improve stopping distances but also provide the driver with more precise feedback, this is crucial for maintaining control during high-speed manoeuvres.

Systems Integration

The Systems team has completed the final modifications of the vehicle’s new wiring harness, marking a major step in system reliability and functionality. The last key addition was a fully functional charging circuit for the battery sporting a fresh rectifier, ensuring stable power delivery throughout the event.

This upgrade is critical for maintaining system voltage during the endurance event, where consistent electrical performance is essential. With the charging system now in place, the team can be confident that all onboard electronics, from data logging to engine control, will operate without interruption across the full race distance.

Simulations

A new data logger has been developed to validate the results from the aerodynamics CFD results. This uses micro pressure sensors and a GPS to record results from around the track, while also being used for pressure outputs. This should improve the accuracy of the speed readouts to be compared with those gathered from the GPS and wheel speed sensors.

Our training tools have also seen an upgrade this spring. We've integrated a monitor into one of our previous chassis, transforming it into a more immersive racing simulator. This setup allows our drivers to practice in a realistic seating position while providing the team with a valuable platform for driver development and data familiarisation ahead of testing.

Sponsor Shout-out

We would like to give a big thank you to one of our sponsors Teng Tools. Teng Tools kindly supplied us with a toolbox and tools at the start of the year. This has been a huge help throughout manufacturing, and we would not be where we are now without their help. Thank you Teng Tools!

Meet the Team

Meet the Team gives you the chance to get to know the people behind SHU Racing that work hard in helping with the manufacturing of our car. This week, we are excited to introduce Matt, a member of our aerodynamics department.