Maruti Suzuki, in association with Society of Automotive Engineers India (SAEINDIA) has commenced SUPRA 2015. The aim of this competition is to provide a platform for budding engineering students to conceptualize, design, fabricate and run a Formula prototype car from scratch. This year, the finale to the fourth edition of the SUPRA SAEINDIA will be held from July 15 to July 19, 2015 at the Chennai Motor Race Track. The contest will see up to 2200 students from 167 engineering colleges participating in the 2015 SUPRA SAEINDIA for the winner’s title.
R S Kalsi, Executive Director – Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. said, “Maruti Suzuki has always been focusing on strengthening its connect with the youth of India. We want to unleash the power of youth and encourage them to be innovative and creative. Our association with SAEINDIA showcases this commitment towards skill development of engineering students. It helps promote their dreams and aspirations, leverage their strengths, tap into their talents and collaborate with them to make our country’s future bright. Maruti Suzuki has always supported such events and will continue to do so.”
The aspiring automobile engineers are given challenging tasks, such as designing a Formula prototype car, end-to-end. Maruti Suzuki and SAEINDIA introduced SUPRA in 2011, and is the duo’s dream to make India an International Automotive Hub and known as Automotive Mission Plan 2016. This year’s SUPRA SAEINDIA will witness 110 teams from SAEINDIA Collegiate Clubs at various Engineering colleges across India, create a virtual design, then build a prototype and test their own formula type race car. As a year long challenge across multiple stages comprising of design defence, multiple rounds of technical inspections and actual construction of the vehicle, SUPRA SAEINDIA encompasses all elements of vehicle building; from design, aesthetics, the choice of parts, through structure design and modelling and to fabrication and final testing.
Prashant K. Banerjee, Convener, SUPRA SAEINDIA, and Head, Homologation & Product Evaluation, Tata Motors Limited said, “We at SAEINDIA are proud to see the event evolve from a mere competition to one that shapes up high quality talent for the industry in substantial numbers. SUPRA SAEINDIA aims to fuel the exuberance of the youth by providing teams a platform to test their mettle against real world challenges as faced in the industry. At the upcoming 4-day grand finale of a one year long event, student designed vehicles will be subjected to critical evaluation by experts on a range of criteria. Over the last editions, SUPRA SAEINDIA has matured into a highly competitive event, bringing out the best of capabilities in the teams with respect to engineering, vehicle construction, teamwork, entrepreneurship, leadership and management skills of the students.”
During the whole period, students are guided and mentored by industry professionals and faculty advisers who are imparted training and guidance by technical experts of SAEINDIA. The students are given a year’s time to prepare their Formula prototype car. The upcoming finale of the 2015 SUPRA SAEINDIA will be judged by a panel of experts from FMSCI (Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India) and the automotive industry.