A couple of months ago, I joined a team of students from Montreal's
École de Technologie supérieure who are participating in the
Formula SAE Championship. I witnessed first-hand the development of their machine as well as their track tests. From May 13 to 18, they took part in an annual competition at the Michigan International Speedway.
Over 100 teams from many different countries flew to Detroit: the United States (including Hawaii), Canada, Brazil, the Netherlands, Japan, Austria, Australia, England, etc. They all had their own spot in the pit area, inside the famous oval speedway, with bleachers totaling 186,000 seats.
A springboard for graduate students Aside from the actual race and various contests, this event allows students to meet with potential employers. Before the competition even started, Jude and Sébastien, who worked on the car's suspension at the ETS, were offered jobs at Arvin Meritor, a renowned auto engineering company. Participating in the Formula SAE Championship encourages students to work extra hard, not only for personal reasons but also for the team's success. Therefore, by hiring a student who's involved in Formula SAE, business executives are making sure-fire selections. Claude Rouelle, an engineer with 30+ years of experience in auto racing, both in
NASCAR and
Formula One , told me that a competition like Detroit's is "a golden recruiting pool; I see the best and I try to hire them." Why? "Because they're highly motivated and knowledgeable and also because they're full of enthusiasm, energy, creativeness and camaraderie," he explains.
Time to go! Back in Montreal, everyone was excited, including myself. The team was scheduled to leave for Detroit at 4 a.m. Upon entering the ETS facilities, I saw team captain Jude sleeping on a couch. A few feet away, the car was still on blocks, with two people working underneath.