i might be a little off the mark here cause ive never had any thing to do with uni (i drove past one once) but is the problem ur have chain driving a diff because of the change of drive directions? wouldn't u be able to just turn the engine 90 degrees and drive straight down onto drive shaft through cv and onto what ever irs style diff u can come up with this might be cheaper than buying one of those flash hill climb ones? could be wrong
what sort of course do u do at uni where u can make race cars?

sounds like i should have done something with my self at school