FEST09

Armed with the experience and knowledge gained from building the FEST08 car, the team started the new season in autumn 2008. Changes in personnel were small – the core of the team remained largely the same and, thanks to the work of previous years, now consisted of fairly experienced students. The goal was to create a new formula car that was better than the last.

In September–October a lot of energy went into satisfying the public attention directed at the team – press events were organised and the team appeared in various media, including all Estonian car magazines as well as the ETV live show “Paar”. The team helped organise an event dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Formula Estonia car, held at TTK – in addition to the historic Estonia cars, a modern Formula Renault was exhibited, and of course the FEST08 car.

Speakers at the event included Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications Juhan Parts and businessman and former formula racing ace Toivo Asmer. FEST08's public appearances also included displays at events such as the Instrutec technology fair, the Robotex robot competition and the Teeviit education fair. The most notable achievement, however, was exhibiting FEST08 in the Estonian booth at Europe's largest technology fair in Hannover. The exposition was organised by EAS, with the aim of introducing Estonian industry and technological achievements to the world.

The design of the new car had also begun in autumn, and by January the frame jigs were already being made. With the arrival of spring, building the formula car gathered pace, and in May the production shop in the far corner of the TTK yard was already running at full power. Although the last glance at the departing month of May saw the car as just a bare frame with an engine attached, assembly this time went even faster, and the car grew out of the skeleton in just a few days.

To meet the deadlines it had set itself, the team worked day and night: FEST09 got onto its wheels for the first time on 13 June at half past one at night and drove on 15 June at 3.08. The first engine sounds cut through the quiet of the summer night and brought the displeasure of the neighbours, but the event was worth it – another formula car had been born. After a test period of nearly six weeks, during which the car's durability was tested, the design was refined, and work was done on setup and driver training, the team set off at the beginning of August for Hockenheim, Germany, where the prestigious Formula Student Germany competition took place on 5–9 August. Unfortunately, fortune showed its capricious character in Germany and put a technical hitch in the Tallinn team's way that prevented it from finishing the endurance event. This meant a large loss of points, and the result was 46th place overall among 78 participants. However, success accompanied the team a week and a half later at Baltic Open in Finland – no problems appeared, the car's potential was realised and the competition was won ahead of the Finnish, Swedish and Danish teams. In addition to the overall winner's challenge trophy, FEST09 also earned two event wins in the super slalom and the endurance event. The successful end of the season showed the car's capability and allowed the team to be satisfied with the work done.