Race Team Workshop

Students gain practical experience in engineering, problem-solving, teamwork, and STEM concepts through the lens of a motorsport team.

Grades: K-12

Time: 1 day to 1 week

Format: Up to 6 activities

Adaptable and modular

Tire Engineer

Measure contact patch width and rolling resistance to understand tire pressure and grip.

Mathematician

Use math and geometry to find the optimal racing line through corners.

Driver

Use a racing simulator to learn about racing lines, braking points, and car control.

DATA engineer

Build a working data logger and learn the basics of electronics, sensor data, and graphing.

Mechanic

Construct a fully functional sim racing steering wheel compatible with iRacing or other racing games.

Content Creator

Practice communication skills to market your team and brand to potential sponsors.

Sample activity format

Learning objectives:

Understand the role and responsibilities of a data engineer in motorsports.
Assemble a functional temperature data logger using sensors and microcontrollers.
Collect, store, and analyze temperature data over time.
Interpret data to make strategic decisions in a real-world context (race team).
Develop skills in communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management.

Outline:

Introduction to data engineering and key STEM concepts (15-20 minutes)
Build a data logger (15-20 minutes)
Record and analyze data (15-20 minutes)
Apply learning on simulator (15-20 minutes)
Check for understanding and reflection (10-15 minutes)