As any other design, there are up and downsides on a beam axle setup. The hard task is to identify the possibilities and flaws of each design, and then choose and go with the one that suits you better ACCORDING TO YOUR TARGETS. There is no thing such as "optimum solution". I am pretty convinced that a beam axle car can have similar (if not better) dynamic performance than a "conventional" FSAE car, and there are many examples out there that favor a simple-as-hell reliable car. A recent example I can remember of...

http://fsae.com/eve/forums/a/t...20065151#11120065151

Keep in mind that we are talking about GFR's 2011 car in comparison, which is one of the fastest FSAE cars out there. Also take a look at Rob's old school (Uni at Buffalo) and teams like ADFA, CalPolySlo, Mini Baja cars etc... At least I was surprised! We might surprise quite a few in the not-so-distant future too...