Curtin Eco Racing Team looking forward to good showing in Shell Eco-marathon Asia 2014

Miri – 17 January 2014 – Members of the Curtin Eco Racing Team (CERT) of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) who are headed to the Philippines next month to participate in the Shell Eco-Marathon® Asia 2014 paid a courtesy call on the university’s pro vice-chancellor recently.

In their meeting with Professor Jim Mienczakowski, the team briefed the pro vice-chancellor on its preparation for the international competition that will see the participation of some 1,500 students from 16 Asian countries. CERT is among 19 Malaysian teams representing their universities at the event which will be judged by a panel of technical experts.

The team comprises fourth-year mechanical engineering students Muhammad Yusof bin Azhar, 24 and Muhammad Ridhwan bin Jailani, 26; third-year mechanical engineering students Mohammad Mahadhir bin Jailani, 22, Afif bin Mohammad Hanapiah, 23 and Mohammad Nabihan Adli bin Zailani, 23; fourth-year electronic and communication engineering student Yazid bin Abdul Razak, 23; and third-year electronic and communication engineering student Mohammad Naqiuddin Ammar bin Othman. They will be accompanied by Dr. Sharul Sham bin Dol, head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Curtin Sarawak’s School of Engineering and Science, who supervised the latest development of the team’s car, The Green Leaf.

The car will be competing in the ‘Urban Concept’ category and team leader Muhammad Yusof said the team looks forward to putting up a good showing in the competition. According to him, the record to beat is 48 kilometres per litre of fuel. In 2012, CERT comprising a different group of students came in fourteenth out of forty teams in the category and the new team hopes to better that achievement.

He added that The Green Leaf, which uses gasoline, is ergonomic, aerodynamically efficient and meets racing safety standards. It is also well-tuned and able to run in all weather conditions. Its body is made of fibreglass, making it light and its high-strength chassis is able to withstand at least 70 kilogrammes of force in any direction as a safety precaution. In addition, the car is unique in that the body design is fully customised with no commercial parts involved.

The Shell Eco-marathon which began its Asian leg in 2010 at the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur, is a unique competition that challenges undergraduate students to build the most fuel-efficient and environment-friendly vehicle that can travel the furthest using the least amount of fuel. This year’s event will be held from 6 to 9 February 2014 at Luneta Park in Manila.

A symbolic send-off for the Malaysian teams was held recently at Universiti Malaya in Kuala Lumpur. Officiating the event was Kelvin Tan, Associate Director for Oil, Gas and Energy, Financial Services and Government, Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu).

Professor Mienczakowski, in expressing his best wishes to the team, said Curtin Sarawak continues to participate in the Shell Eco-Marathon® Asia as, just like Shell, it is fully committed to promoting environmental innovation and energy sustainability.

“It is not a matter of winning, but rather our being able to contribute new ideas and concepts that can help sustain the world’s resources. Our students have done an excellent job and come up with an impressive car which I hope will perform to their expectations,” he added.

The team, meanwhile, said working the car and preparing for the competition has been a good learning experience that has encouraged a high degree of innovation and teamwork amongst its members. It has also encouraged them to think innovatively and apply concepts they have learned in the classroom.

Besides the on track award, the CERT is also vying for off track awards. The winning team will be selected by an independent panel of judges based on overall achievement in safety and technical performance, as well as marketing and communication competence demonstrated during the event.

Professor Mienczakowski (left), Dr. Sharul (far right) with members of the Curtin Eco Racing Team.