Tribune News Network
Doha
In the lead up to the 2024 Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix, the world-famous Scuderia Ferrari HP drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz enthralled university students in Qatar with an engaging session to celebrate the upcoming Shell Eco-marathon event set to take place in Qatar in February 2025.
The students took the opportunity to ask the drivers a range of insightful questions. They delved into what motivates the drivers on the track, how they collaborate with their technical teams, and the engineering challenges Scuderia Ferrari HP faces when pushing their high-speed vehicles to their limits.
A university student attending the event said, “Meeting the Scuderia Ferrari HP drivers up close is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. They have given me further inspiration to excel in my engineering studies. It would be a dream come true to one day be an engineer at a team like Scuderia Ferrari HP.”
The event was attended by 20 students from leading universities in Qatar, all of whom competed in the Shell Eco-marathon in Indonesia earlier this year.
Shell Eco-marathon is a global programme that provides a platform for student teams to explore many aspects of design and technology to design, build and test their own ultra-energy-efficient cars.
Speaking for Scuderia Ferrari HP, Dennis de Munck, head of University Partnerships, said: “Education is the cornerstone of innovation and teamwork. Engaging with these bright, curious, and proactive minds helps to nurture the next generation of engineers, innovators and team players. We are proud to support initiatives that inspire and challenge students to push the boundaries of technology and sustainability.”
The students also took the opportunity to showcase their own car to the Scuderia Ferrari HP drivers. They talked about the energy-saving features of the vehicles and the various energy types they use, such as battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and internal combustion engines.
In 2025, Shell Eco-marathon will celebrate 40 years of innovation. The Asia-Pacific and the Middle East regional event will be hosted in Qatar under the patronage of Chairperson of Qatar Museums HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani through the Qatar Auto Museum.
This is the first time in the competition’s 40-year history that the event will be held in the Middle East.
