October officially marks the beginning of the new racing cycle and the end of the previous season. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our members who have graduated, or decided to take on new challenges, for their valuable contributions to the association. For the new season, new leadership positions have been assigned: A huge thank you to Joël Caminada (Mechanics Lead), Simon Meli (Electrics Lead), and Nathan Dreyer (CFO), who will be stepping down from their positions, for their exceptional work. Taking over in the new season will be David Margreth (Mechanics Lead), Linus Leuch (Electrics Lead), and Benito Bodtländer (CFO). We have also had the pleasure of meeting many new faces! With new students starting their bachelor’s and master’s programs, this month has been all about recruiting passionate and motivated people to join our team. We are proud to announce that we have welcomed 38 new members, bringing our total to more than 100! The more dedicated people we have on board, the further we can push ourselves to make ZUR06 our best car yet.
As for structural transformations, we had the board undergo an important change: It was expanded and at the same time separated operationally from the leader level. The aim of this adjustment is to ensure stronger oversight for a smooth season and to give the Board a clear mentoring role towards both the leaders and the members. With the addition of new board members, who all hold valuable skills and experience, we want to provide targeted support and relief to the leaders. On one hand, this is about building on the success of ZUR05 with ZUR06 in the short term; on the other, it is about preparing long-term strategic decisions and measures that will secure stability and decision-making capacity for Zurich UAS Racing in the years to come.
We had the opportunity to participate in a test day in Biel during the Swiss GP, an event organized as a collaborative team exchange at the DTC Test Track. The day brought together several Swiss Formula Student teams for a full schedule of testing, discussions, and hands-on collaboration. Throughout the event, we were able to present our car and showcase the progress we’ve made this season. It was an excellent chance to exchange ideas, technical insights, and best practices with other teams facing similar engineering challenges. We gained valuable feedback on our setup and learned about different design philosophies and problem-solving approaches. Beyond the technical aspects, building connections with other passionate and motivated teams was incredibly rewarding, and we left inspired by the shared dedication to innovation and performance that defines the Formula Student spirit. Overall, it was a productive and motivating day that strengthened both our knowledge and our ties within the Swiss Formula Student community.
The Mechanics has completed the chassis drawings, which are now with the welder – meaning our brand-new chassis will arrive in just a few weeks! Earlier this month, a few MT members also had the chance to go on a trip to Munich to attend an advanced suspension course led by Claude Rouelle, the owner of Optimum G, an international vehicle dynamics consultant group. The following week, they participated in a CADFEM CFD/FEM training, where ZUR was represented with the largest delegation. For the Electrics team, each season kicks off with developing new schematics, setting the foundation for this year’s innovations. A major change within the ET department this year is the transition from AMK to DTI motors and inverters. DTI offers a newer, lighter, and more efficient solution with greater customization potential. To ensure a smooth switch, the team is currently conducting a detailed comparisons between both systems and preparing for full integration.
