FSTU USA 2005

In May 2005 the US FSAE Event was attended by a group of RMIT Racing members competing with RO4, RMIT Racing's 2004 car.  The car was freighted by sea after extensive modifications that saw the car 6kg lighter and with a more refined handling package than what was run at the ‘04 Australian competition.

The competition weekend went smoothly with a win in the Presentation Event thanks to well prepared talk by static subsystem head John Abakumenko.  The team had a poor showing in the Acceleration and Skid Pad Events, placing a low 54th and 19th respectively.  The team put in a good showing in the Autocross Event, with Mark Hester steering the car to a third place.

The team made it to the Design semi-finals and subsequently, after a 5 hour judging session, the finals.  The remaining day of dynamic events saw the running of the Endurance/Economy event.  Sitting well within the top five, and always performing well in endurance, a podium finish was a near certainty.

With a lightning driver change coupled with RO4 lapping over a second quicker than any other team, a successful endurance finish looked imminent.  With only two laps to go, Mechanical failure saw all hope of RMIT Racing winning the competition lost.  With no points recorded for the Endurance or Fuel Economy Events, and consequently only a fifth in Design, RMIT placed 37th in a field of 140 entrants.