The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) scooped the number one spot in yet another dominant performance at this year’s Sasol Baja SAE 2013 event with main sponsor Sasol with co-sponsors Briggs and Stratton, ESTEQ and Gerotek Test Facilities.

The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) finished overall on 707.17 out of a 1000 points while the University of Pretoria (TUKS) claimed a valiant second place with 704.14 points and  the Pune University from India rounded off a great weekend in third place with 563.28.

The annual event is an inter university design competition where mechanical engineering students from universities designed and built single-seater small off-road vehicles running on Briggs and Stratton engines of the same specifications.

It was a dynamic and pulsating weekend at the Gerotek Test Facilities just outside Pretoria, with the two international Indian and 14 local teams all eagerly contesting South Africa’s premier inter-university engineering competition. 

Sixteen teams from eight local and two foreign universities entered the competition.

The competition comprised of:

• Writing of design and cost reports
• Static design evaluation by engineers from local industry (Esteq, Transnet, Denel, Bar Eskom, Paramount Ergotech, Joest, Drytech International, Siemag Tecburg, Investmech and many more)
• Competing in dynamic events such as:
  
  • Hill climb (40%, 50%, 60% and 70% inclines )
  • Skid pull towing a 1 ton weight
  • Maneuverability track
  • Top speed run
  • Acceleration; and a
• Four hour endurance race

The 2km Gerotek Baja track was demanding as the student competitors struggled through water hazards, steep drops, inclines and jumps. Out of 16 vehicles that started the event, only nine took part in the endurance race.  

Michael Victor, Baja Rules and Technical Specialist at ESTEQ said, “Baja requires participants to use real-world engineering practices to conquer the challenges associated with designing and building a recreational all-terrain vehicle. The competition also challenged the entrants to not only build a vehicle that will win the competition but also one that is feasible for mass production purposes, thereby incorporating the disciplines of racing and performance design with industrial design.”

“At Sasol, we are committed to the development of science and technology. With a growing concern regarding the critical need for engineers in South Africa, we are constantly looking for new ways to encourage the youth to pursue a career in engineering,” says Dumisani Mbokane, Sponsorship Specialist at Sasol.

The project is also used to expose 50 senior school children from a school in Atteridgeville to the world of the engineering. The students get the opportunity to engage with engineering students and senior role players in the industry that explain the project to them and tell them about the role of an engineer in the industry.

Every student that takes part in the Sasol Baja SAE project gains knowledge and experience of a real world engineering project which will enable them to deliver a service to the betterment of society and the world.

Sasol Baja SAE has, during its 17 year history firmly entrenched itself as South Africa’s premier engineering inter-university competition. The Baja SAE event has been a central component of the Sasol sponsorship portfolio, with the company having supported the event continuously since its inception in South Africa in 1996.

Ends

Issued by:

Alex Anderson, Group Media Manager
Direct telephone +27 (11) 441 3295; Mobile +27 (0) 71 600 9605;
alex.anderson@sasol.com

Jacqui O’Sullivan, GM: Group Communication
Direct telephone +27 (11) 441 3252; Mobile +27 (0) 82 883 9697;
jacqui.osullivan@sasol.com