OREANDA-NEWS. Sasol’s annual BAJA SAE is fast approaching and university students across the country are gearing up towards showing their vehicles off at the Gerotek Testing facilities in Pretoria. This year for the third time since the inception of this competition, the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) will be taking to compete for the title.

BAJA SAE is an intercollegiate design competition run by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). University students are invited to design, build and race off-road vehicles that can withstand the harshest elements of rough terrain. Running for 16 successful years, the competition has established itself as the premier technological education event on the tertiary institutions calendar, as a tool to promote and evaluate quality automotive engineering education in South Africa.

Dubbing themselves “Freddie’s Four” the UKZN team consists of K Chetty (Verulam), K Pillay (Effingham), M Reddy (Tongaat) and A Reddy (Chatsworth) all 4th year engineering students passionate about cars and motorsports. The team designed and assembled their vehicle from scratch and it has been a work in progress since the beginning of this year. In designing their vehicle the team focused on weight optimization and performance.

To ensure their vehicle is on par with the latest trends and innovations, their vehicle chassis is lightweight and compact, its transmission employs a reverse gear and the final drive transferred via CV joints is connected to transmission output.

The BAJA vehicles are judged on the creation of design specifications and the ability to meet those specifications. Computer aided drafting, analysis, testing and development, manufacturability, serviceability, system integration and how the vehicle works together as a whole, are all key factors in choosing the overall winner.

“Bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge gained in university to industry knowledge and manufacturing capabilities was the main challenge we encountered. To overcome this we consulted with vehicle manufactures to help us identify the best way forward in terms of engine and structural modifications for our vehicle,” said team leader Avilan Reddy.

When asked what they would advise school going learners who wish to take up engineering as a career the team revealed, “Engineering is an exciting programme which is both challenging and enjoyable.  It is a career in which one has to keep adapting and growing to meet the latest technology and new methods of doing things.”

“At Sasol we believe in education as a foundation to a prosperous future and are committed to the development of science and technology. The BAJA SAE provides invaluable hands-on engineering experience, whilst spectators are also able to gain insights into the importance and applicability of engineering to our everyday lives,” says Dumisani Mbokane, Sponsorship Specialist at Sasol.

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.

The 17th installment of the Sasol Baja SAE takes place at the Gerotek Test Facilities, West of Pretoria. The public is welcome to attend on the Saturday and entrance is free.