Düzce University Students Achieve Major Success

Düzce University Motor Sports Club DURacing Formula Student team represented the university and our country in Italy. The team, which completed the vehicle construction under the guidance of team advisors Dr. Mert Kılınçel and Dr. Yakup Okan Alpay, submitted their entry to the competition and secured a place in the finals of the Formula Student Italy organization, where 25 teams worldwide qualified for the final round, achieving international success. At the organization held at the "Autodromo Riccardo Paletti" circuit in Varano de Melegari, Parma, Italy, the Düzce University DURacing team succeeded in securing a place in the paddock. At the organization where world-leading chassis and sports car manufacturers such as Dallara, Maserati, and Ferrari competed, the primary focus was on students demonstrating their engineering capabilities. Throughout this process, where students documented every stage of their vehicle from design to simulation, manufacturing to assembly, and cost to business planning, they competed not only in engineering knowledge but also in English language skills. The team, which participated in the internal combustion engine category, made a first for Turkish participating teams by producing their entire vehicle chassis from composite materials and completing a monocoque chassis. Team members who successfully executed challenging and difficult production methods in composite material manufacturing effectively explained these methods to judges and other team members in Italy.

Contributing to professional development

In statements about the organization, Team Advisor Dr. Mert Kılınçel noted that among the participating countries were university students from developed nations such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Russia, and France. He stated that the knowledge exchange that Düzce University students gained with prospective engineers from different countries at this event made a significant contribution to their professional development. He also emphasized that the judges evaluating the organization consisted of engineers working at major automotive, composite material, and electronic systems manufacturing companies; and that it was important for competitors to explain their work before such a jury. Kılınçel noted that the judges serving at the organization had also participated in these competitions during their student years, and stated that for this reason, the Formula Student Italy event provided students with much more benefits than expected.

They will take the university and Turkey further

Dr. Mert Kılınçel, saying that it is extremely valuable for students to meet engineering students from many different countries at such a large organization and exchange knowledge with them, continued as follows: "I have no doubt that our students will take our university and our country further in light of this knowledge. I am grateful to our university for providing this opportunity. On behalf of my team and students, we extend our infinite gratitude to the Rector of the Term, Prof. Dr. Nigar Demircan Çakar, who provided us this opportunity and encouraged us by believing in our dreams."

Testing their knowledge and skills at the highest level

Düzce University Motor Sports Club Team Advisor Dr. Yakup Okan Alpay, who is working at Manchester University for postdoctoral research, commented on the subject as follows: "Our students gained a tremendous experience by participating in 'formula student,' one of the world's most prestigious engineering competitions. With the strong support of our university, our greatest desire is to make participation in this competition continuous in the coming years, so that many more of our students can experience this. Our students participating in this competition, which brings together many engineering disciplines, test their knowledge and skills at the highest level. This makes a great contribution to the development of their self-confidence. Seeing that our students, our university, and our sponsors' support was not in vain has been a source of pride for all of us."