I agree, it is a competition so it is not more than logical you try to get the most out of your car by interpreting the rules as much to your advantage as you can. However, there is one thing that cannot be compromised on a FSAE car, and that is safety (both Braunschweig and Muenchen had a crash this year, and our car flipped over last year).
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> If you stay safely within the bounds of the rules and never try to push limits you're not going to beat anyone. </div></BLOCKQUOTE> This is simply not true. To add another example to the list of fully rule compliant cars that beat the rest, it would be the Delft car. We came second at FS UK this year and we won FSG. And that with a car with a main-hoop line that easily accommodates drivers up to 6'4", and an impact structure that, despite the low sides, is way beyond the impact structure required by the rules, not to mention the protection against A-arm penetration by a carbon monocoque.
So instead of trying to dodge the rules running the risk of being, in the worst case, disqualified, be inventive incorporating the rules in your design instead. All you need to do is to think outside the box.