ISLAMABAD - Locally made formula style sports car by the students of National University of Science and Technology (NUST) along with a 31-member team of the university left for United Kingdom (UK) here on Monday to compete at the international formula student racing championship.
As many as 114 teams from various countries are participating in the 16th international formula student race scheduled to be held at the Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire, UK, from 9 to 13 July.
The 600 CC sports car, that can hit speed up to 120 KM/Hour within 04 seconds and is named after the Late Dean of NUST, Naval Capt. Nadeem Ahmed Shaheed (NAS 14) has been manufactured by students of mechanical engineering at NUST, Karachi, and was recently put at public display in all the provincial and federal capitals last month.
Talha Sohail, a student at NUST and driver of the sports car, while leaving for UK said, "With a much better car the team is hopeful for an impressive result this time."
According to him, the 31-member student team of NUST that includes 04 girls had worked day and night since the last one year to represent Pakistan at the world's largest ever student motor sport competition. "We wanted to prove it to the world that Pakistanis can also make a mark in the technological arena, and in spite of all the hardships that we faced, it is now time to prove our metal," he stated.
While sharing details about the preparedness of the team to compete at the race, Sohail stated that for the first time the NUST drivers were trained by the international drivers from Sri Lankan Motor - a racing giant, EZY Racing whereas all expenses of the NUST team including the manufacturing of the car and the travel expenses were borne by leading IT and telecom enabler, Interactive Group.
"After sleepless nights, tireless work hours and compromising the time to be spent with friends and family for about a whole year, the Formula NUST Racing Team is all set to participate in the Formula Student competition from 9-13th July at the home of British motorsports" he said.