'D-Mora P1' leads Lanka's winning streak

UK's innovation contest :

The D-Mora P1 race car built by the engineering students of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Moratuwa, with the backing of Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC (DIMO), won three awards at the world's biggest student motorsport competition 'Formula Student 2016'.

This was the first time a team from Sri Lanka took part in this prestigious event which was worked off at the Silverstone Circuit in the United Kingdom recently with the participation of over 130 teams from 30 countries.

Organized by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Formula Student is Europe's most established educational motorsport competition and is backed by the industry as well as high-profile engineers.

The competition challenges university student engineers from around the world to design, build and race a single-seat racing car in one year in order to compete in static and dynamic events, demonstrating their understanding and testing the performance of the race car.

Dozens of Formula Student alumni have progressed to Formula 1, and hundreds more are now working at the world's largest automotive firms helping to design and engineer the cars of tomorrow.

The team from the University of Moratuwa - TeamSHARK - was sponsored by DIMO and comprised 18 members led by Harshana Kelasha.

The three awards they won, included two team awards - 'Best Newcomer in Class 1' and 'Dedication to Formula Student Award' - and one individual award for the 'Top Individual Driver' which was bagged by Induwara Munasinghe for his outstanding driving skills.

The competition was conducted under two categories - Classes 1 and 2. Class 2 focused on design presentations and costing while the more challenging Class 1 required teams to build a Formula Student race car in addition to other presentations. TeamSHARK underwent rigorous testing procedures in scrutineering, tilt, brake and noise tests.

After a successful participation in static events including design, cost and sustainability and business presentations, TeamSHARK participated in dynamic events that included Skid Pad, Acceleration, Sprint, Endurance and Efficiency.

The D-Mora P1 race car was designed and built from scratch and took almost two years to complete. Initial funds for the project was raised by selling tickets to department lecturers and alumni. The 2008 batch of the Faculty of Engineering, made a donation which made it possible to fabricate the chassis of the car at Advance Engineering workshop at Delkanda.

Top Individual Driver - Induwara Munasinghe

Leader, TeamSHARK, Harshana Kelasha

Lecturer, University of Moratuwa, C. M. S. P. de Silva

However, at these early stages of the car's design and development, Team SHARK was faced with a limited budget but after receiving a timely funding and logistical boost courtesy of DIMO, they were able to build a superior car that could compete at the global stage.

TeamSHARK was given expert advice and guidance and had complete access to the facilities at DIMO's Siyambalape, Weliweriya and Colombo premises to build a dynamic, world-class race car.

Chairman and Managing Director of DIMO, Ranjith Pandithage said, "This team of talented individuals has brought glory to Mother Lanka and the University of Moratuwa through their achievements at this international event."

"They have surpassed all expectations and showed the world that Sri Lanka has the passion, talent and skill in abundance to be on par with any country in the world. We, at DIMO, are immensely proud to be a part of this extraordinary journey and we believe that greater things will be achieved by them in the years to come," he said.

Director of DIMO, Vijitha Bandara said, "The exceptional performance by TeamSHARK and their impressive race car in their maiden appearance has certainly made other countries sit up and take notice about the engineering talent in Sri Lanka. We have certainly achieved our goal by identifying the talent in Sri Lanka and provide them with the relevant resources which have enabled them to bring back glory to the motherland in an international event."

Dean, Faculty of Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Prof. Kapila Perera, said, "The University of Moratuwa has always been the pinnacle of engineering education of our country and has proven, yet again, that its undergraduates are always ready to challenge the world."

"TeamSHARK of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, have glorified the name of our institution once more and showered our country with glory and pride by winning three awards at their first-ever Formula Student - UK competition," he said.

Team leader of TeamSHARK, Harshana Kelasha said, "Although there were several failed attempts to launch this project by senior batches, the dedication, passion and technical brilliance of our team members from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Moratuwa, managed to scramble together some funds and donations to design and fabricate the chassis."

"We were at a crisis as to how to continue with the project due to the lack of funds, when Vijitha Bandara of DIMO contacted us, due to a newspaper article appearing in a weekend newspaper, spawning the rebirth of TeamSHARK, through their financial and technical support," he said.

Members of Team SHARK included: Harshana Kelasha (Team leader), Rajive Wisidagama (Technical Director), Chathura Semasinghe (Operational Manager), Sajith Edirisinghe (Financial Manager), Nushen Senevirathna (Chief Engineer - Chassis), Sachithra Atapattu (Chief Engineer - Chassis), Rukmal Dhanushka (Chief Engineer - Power Train), Praneeth Weerathunga (Chief Engineer - Steering), Isuru Mudalige (Chief Engineer - Vehicle Dynamics), Induwara Munasinghe (Chief Engineer - Electrical), Amith Mudugamuwa (Marketing Director), Buddhi Herath (Event Coordinator), Thushara Sandakalum (Assistant Engineer - Power Train), Kasun Harshana (Assistant Engineer - Power Train), Shameen Kamburugamuwa (Assistant Engineer - Chassis), Navoda Lakshan (Assistant Engineer - Brakes and Dynamics), Jaliya Chinthaka (Assistant Engineer -Suspension) and Buddhika De Alwis (Assistant Engineer - Steering).