Maltese racing enthusiasts now have the chance to put their money where their mouth is by contributing to a local racing team’s crowdfunding campaign.

The University of Malta Racing Team is aiming to compete in the 2017 Formula SAE season with a racing car that’s faster, lighter and smarter than any of its previous models. The 2017 model is expected to feature a turbocharged engine - a first for the team,  which is made up of 60 university students from a variety of faculties.

“What started as a dream for four young students in 2012 has grown into a club that encompasses 60 students from eight faculties within the University,” said Matthew Buhagiar, who leads the team's business group. 

The project is also feeding the University's research arm, with five undergraduate dissertations based on the racing car currently in the pipeline. 

It will be the third time the team takes part in the Formula SAE season. In 2015 the team finished 29th out of 77 teams.

The team is hoping to raise €5,000 over Maltese crowdfunding platform Zaar. The money will go towards better and lighter parts, with the team hoping to shave 30kg off the car's weight while also developing its data analysis system to better analyse the car's performance in real-time.  

It already has a key backer in the Ministry of Education and Employment, with Education Minister Evarist Bartolo confirming its sponsorship at a press conference this afternoon. Other sponsors include Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, Tek-Moulds, Playmobil Malta, PwC Malta, Adpro-Instruments Ltd., Continental Cars Ltd., RS Components, Würth Malta, iCreateMotion and QFree Traffiko.

Earlier today, the team’s workshop was transformed into an exhibition space demonstrating the work that has been done since the team’s 2012 reformation. Student team members explained the car-building process and visitors could see how the team’s racing car has evolved from its first model in 2007 to its 2014 and 2015 forms.