I am pleased to announce that the ATA (Automotive Technical Association) is organizing
the first FSAE event in ITALY, as an additional FSAE European event,
under the official FSAE rules.

This event will be between the 15th September and the 15th October 2005 and will be supported by the main Automotive Italian Group...

If you are interested stay tuned and send me an e-mail to subscribe to the event mailing list.

I will post more details during the next week.

The FSAE Italia Committee has defined the Event program of the Formula SAE Italia Event
that will take place from 22 to 25 September 2005 in Italy.

The track area will be chosen during the next week.

The first official webpage is on-line and more info are coming soon.

The official link is:

http://www.ata.it/formulatemp

Stay tuned

This is the Formula ATA official link:
http://www.ata.it/formulaata/

Some important informations are on-line.

I hope to meet many of you in Italy this September.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: V2 - Italy,

The name is changed (I don't know why) but it seems that the competition will be really interesting.

Here are the rules:http://www.ata.it/formulaata/Rulesf

These are the competition events and their points:

Static tests:
Presentation 100
Design evaluation 200

On-track tests:
Weight Measurement 50
Acceleration 50
Braking 50
Steering Pad 50
Pursuit competition 200
Endurance 300

Total 1000

-So there will be no cost event (no cost report ).
-The dynamic events are increased to six , without fuel economy, but adding 3 more events.
-The car weight will be evaluated to give 0 (the heaviest) to 50 points (the lightest).
-The will be a deceleration test, measuring the negative acceleration during ten meters braking from 60/80kmh.
-The pursuit competition will be like a "race of champions", with two cars on the track and the winner will compete again until the final race. For the first time there will be a direct competition one on one.

The other dynamic events are a little bit different from the Formula SAE ones, with different length or radius.

What do you think?

If you would like to be informed, you can send an email to the ATA organization.
http://www.ata.it/formulaata/Contacts

This message has been edited. Last edited by: V2 - Italy,

Formula "race of champions" huh?! should be interesting. I love the idea of racing in a soccer stadium environment.

What's the rooms over there cost like per night? how bout food and all?

I started reading through the rules and was very surprised. This is not a "Formula SAE" event like we know it. It is similar but there are some huge differences. Why can't the ATA just adopt the same rules the rest of the series uses? It looks like a car could be built to these rules and not be eligible or competitive at the other events throughout the world. The strategies for scoring points would need to be dramatically different.

I started taking notes and keeping track of some of the major differences and giant loopholes and I figured I would share them here. Anyone else care to share their observations.

My thoughts on Formula ATA rules
Only 13 Pages!! This is just not enough.

2.1 Admitted competitors
Graduated after January of 2004 are still eligible.

3.1 All cars are new cars –
Even if they are a several years old...

4.2 No spectators in the area –
Are the pits closed as well? Is it closed to spectators like Detroit is?

5.2 Scrutineering
No tilt table test listed
No Tech inspection list

5.5.1 Drivers
Looks like you can have you ace driver do everything but one leg of the endurance. I think this makes it more of a driver's event –
lame.

5.5.3 Weather
Trying to level the playing field during changing weather conditions – this could get ugly if people don't agree

5.5.5 Weight Measurement
I am a big believer in weight reduction but to score it is silly. Give points to the fastest car not the lightest.
Must drive in and drive out of weight area – seems like a good idea

5.5.7 Brake Testing
So I guess the strategy is to be on the brakes before you pass the first gate. I can see a situation where a team is able to stop from 60km/h in less than 10 meters. Then what happens?

5.5.8 Steering pad
Just a circle. Can run in the same direction each time. Sound like fun for the circle track guys. ˜Why would you want to turn right?'

5.5.9 Pursuit Competition
What's wrong with the normal autocross? Time allowed for quick repairs could be nice.

5.5.10 Endurance
About 25km long.

5.5.10.2 Pit Stop During Endurance Event
This could be good. No more than two cars allowed to stop at the same time in the pit – what if you need to but there are already two cars there.

6.4 Engine
Allows 620cc engine. Are there any suitable production engines that fall between 610cc and 620cc?

6.4.10 Transmission Shield
Must be metallic but it doesn't have requirements

6.5 Suspension
"Cars must be fitted with sprung suspension. There must be movement of the wheels to give suspension travel in excess of any flexibility in the attachments."
This seems to allow less suspension travel than FSAE and disallow flex joints. "In Excess of any flexibility" sounds like a judgment call.

6.10 Chassis requirements
Does not specifically outlaw composite or aluminum roll hoops

quote:

Originally posted by James Waltman:
I started reading through the rules and was very surprised. This is not a "Formula SAE" event like we know it. It is similar but there are some huge differences. Why can't the ATA just adopt the same rules the rest of the series uses?

I don't know the answer but I suggest you to send an email to the Formula ATA General Manager Dr.Eng.Luciano Pera
luciano.pera@crf.it
that will be happy to answer to your questions, and it should be interesting if you can share these infos in the forum.

quote:

It looks like a car could be built to these rules and not be eligible or competitive at the other events throughout the world.

It seems, but for the Italian teams the keypoint is that our Formula SAE car must be eligible to compete in Formula ATA.

quote:

3.1 All cars are new cars –
Even if they are a several years old...

May be they would allow to compete to the largest number of teams.

quote:

4.2 No spectators in the area –
Are the pits closed as well? Is it closed to spectators like Detroit is?

4.2 Spectators
A free access to a panoramic area will be provided for spectators during track action days.
An accreditation is needed to enter the pit area. I think that some hundreds of spectators could visit the pits.

quote:

5.2 Scrutineering
No Tech inspection list

I suppose that it will be released during the next weeks.

quote:

5.5.3 Weather
Trying to level the playing field during changing weather conditions – this could get ugly if people don't agree

The weather shouldn't be a problem during the Italian September, usually the temperature is between 20˚C (min) to 30˚C (max) and the sun is high in the sky.

quote:

6.5 Suspension
"Cars must be fitted with sprung suspension. There must be movement of the wheels to give suspension travel in excess of any flexibility in the attachments."
This seems to allow less suspension travel than FSAE and disallow flex joints. "In Excess of any flexibility" sounds like a judgment call.

I think that flex joints are allowed and the flexibility in the attachment is referred to kart behaviour.

Anyway, for any question I suggest you to send an email to the Formula ATA General Manager and he will reply in a while.

quote:

Originally posted by RiNaZ:
Formula "race of champions" huh?! should be interesting. I love the idea of racing in a soccer stadium environment.

What's the rooms over there cost like per night? how bout food and all?

It isn't a soccer stadium but a real track.
The food will be good, you can bet it, if you like italian food. A catering service will be ready in the paddock building.
I don't know the room cost per night, but I think it should be lower than in USA and in UK.
The FATA organization is looking for some accomodation at low cost.

Looks very interesting, and Warwick is looking closely at how we might be able to take part.

I don't understand why the Formula ATA managers didn't refer to the SAE rules for the technical requirements and just publish specific variations where relevant.

The idea of the pursuit competition is an exciting one, although it seems harsh that some slow cars will get through to the last couple of rounds when other much faster ones will be knocked out in the first round. I'd also agree with previous comments about the low number of drivers required and the awarding of points based on weight. If the judges decide to use the 'weather' rule things could get a little disputed!

I hope the Formula ATA managers do give consideration to the points we're raising. Looking forward to it already (if we can afford it) - hope to see you there! Thanks to Firenze for keeping us updated.

Is this an SAE-sanctioned event??

Actually the Formula ATA seems to be an indipendent event, that could become an official event in the future.
Anyway all the FSAE cars are admitted to the competition; don't be scared by the 13 pages rules

Here some interesting news:
-the Formula ATA Organizational Committee has announced that during the event, every team will receive the lunch tickets for free.
-the daily accommodation cost will be no more than 20,00 Euro, and the Committee is going to reach an agreement with some hotels to lower this cost.
-every team member will have the event shirt for free.

The Technical Committee is really impressive: judges from Formula 1, IRL, Rally, WTCC...
Visit the link: http://www.ata.it/formulaata/Teccommittee
Do you know any of them?

Mauro Forghieri

That's a very experienced judging comitee you have overthere. It adds a lot of credibility to your event, that's for sure!

cant wait to get over there and kick all you bitches asses up and down the big boot.

Hello to everyone in the wonderful Italy!

We are all really excited about this competition here! .We are just a step away from the Italy!(Can see the ships leaving for there within a distance of 100m from my home!).
Ok.Enough with the emotional side!I am the Team Leader of the new Formula Student vehicle of the University of Patras,Greece.We are preparing for the Class 2 entry of the new vehicle in the UK competition this summer.I would like to ask if there is a provision for Class 2 & Class 3 in the ATA event,as those are an indispensable part of the UK competition,making it really attractive to new teams & also increasing the exciting potential of aplying new technologies to the competition.

Wishing all the success to the new event!

quote:

Originally posted by SkidRow:
I would like to ask if there is a provision for Class 2 & Class 3 in the ATA event

There will be a Class 3 for sure and may be a Class 2, too.

Here some important news about the FATA event.

ATA is going to reach an agreement with SAE to include the Formula ATA in the official Formula SAE event, as a second European Event, so the event will be under the Formula SAE rules.

To finalize this agreement two members of the ATA committee will be present at the Formula SAE Competition in Detroit.

A new feature will be available to the teams, to show their work worldwide:
a car presentation (5minutes) will be video recorded and shared through the official website, to be downloaded. It should be a good way for the teams and their sponsors to increase the visibility.

V2,

Do entrants all need to be part of ATA, or does local memberships count (eg UK teams can use IMechE member status at Australia and FSAE rather than becoming members of SAE as well)?

If Formula ATA will be run as an official event, does this mean the static and dynamic events will now be changed to be the same as the American competition?

What about entry rules, e.g. will all cars still count as "new cars" and eligible for Class 1?

One of the Italian competition judges will be present at the Formula SAE competition.
When he will come back to Italy (next week), your questions (rules, dynamic events, Classes...) will have an answer.

Good luck to all the FSAE team in Detroit.