While waiting for the Grand Prix in May, the engines are already warming up at the racetrack in preparation for F1. The roar, however, is not that of the single-seaters of Leclerc, Hamilton and Verstappen, but the sweeter “sound” of the mini cars created by the students of the “F1 in Schools” project which this year involves 28 teams from 21 Italian institutes supported by important motorsport partners such as Pirelli and Dallara.
After the qualifiers and the first semi-final held in the home of Cavallino in Fiorano (and won by the Respighi high school of Piacenza with the Amx team) the Enzo and Dino Ferrari is today the scene of the second semi-final of this initiative which allows children from 9 to 19 years of developing STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), applying them in the creation of a miniature single-seater propelled by compressed air cartridges that can even reach 80-100 km/h along a special straight 24 meter track .
In Imola, one year after the first time, ten mini cars will compete for the five places up for grabs for the passage to the national phase scheduled for 16 June at the Dallara Academy on the Varano de’ Melegari circuit, in the province of Parma. From there the “stables” will then come out and represent our country between September and November at the world finals (date and place yet to be defined) where they will find opponents from 60 other nations.
The acceleration race, however, is not limited to just the chronometric challenge on the track, both alone to measure reaction time at the start and travel time and as a couple for the most classic of head-to-head events. An international jury will evaluate the single-seater at 360° through various tests: from the design of the car created entirely by the students to the design which must respect dimensions and shape to avoid penalties, up to the creation of the brand and its presentation in English. Without neglecting the business plan and everything related to communication. That is, all the aspects that revolve around an F1 car.
The teams, made up of three to six students, are provided with Cad software to collaborate, design, analyse, produce, test and then race the miniature cars. With computerized numerical control machines and 3D printers, the boys build the chassis of the car on which the Pirelli P Zero tires are mounted. The car is then tested virtually and then in a smoke wind tunnel, before the “litmus test” on the track. Teams also need to think about raising sponsorships and figure out how to manage the budget to fund research, travel and accommodation. In short, as if they were real leaders of an F1 team.
