UniBo Motorsport: interview with the students of the Racing Team of the University of Bologna
UniBo Motorsport is a project born in 2009 from the passion of a small group of engineering students with the aim of connecting academic reality to industrial reality. Thus was born the Racing Team of the University of Bologna, which over the years has expanded more and more, involving students from different faculties with a single objective: to design and develop prototypes of electric and combustion cars and motorcycles, and to compete with their own models within circuits and competitions, comparing themselves with other university teams from all over the world.
With the help of Gabriele Cernicchi and Davide Bertozzi, respectively Team Leader and CTO of the prototype electric motorbike, we had the opportunity to get to know the world of UniBo Motorsport.
UniBo Motorsport is a university reality that invests on young people, but what is it specifically?
UniBo Motorsport is the Racing Team of the University of Bologna, a reality whose purpose is to allow students to put into practice the notions learned from the degree courses by designing, creating and putting on track prototypes for racing, both 2 and 4 wheels, Both electric and combustion.
These prototypes are then made to compete in competitions held on international circuits (sometimes even on F1 circuits) between universities around the world. It should be born in mind that this is an engineering competition, where both the performance on track and the good management of the project, resources and finances available count.
In addition to this, UniBo Motorsport is also a family: a meeting place for people passionate about Automotive and Motorsport, all with the sole objective of making the best car or bike.
How do you join this team?
Every year, with the beginning of the university classes, a “recruiting” moment is held during which the prototypes of the previous season are exposed and the project is presented to approach the students interested. This is followed by a screening phase through a written test. Successful candidates are finally selected through an individual interview with the team’s referees, who vary according to the department for which they apply.
Everyone has their own role within the team, how are the different roles defined?
The establishment plan adopted today is obviously the result of experience of recent years. The team is composed of a Team Leader, who is responsible for operational and administrative management; a Marketing Manager and three Technical Directors (CTO) whose job is to coordinate the different department heads (for example, Aerodynamics, Chassis, Powertrain, etc.) and define project deadlines and priorities. Individual department heads then manage the work of a smaller group of people, coordinating the various jobs that the department has to do to make sure the car is up and compliant.
Typically, the turnover of the figures of responsibility within the team is annual, therefore each manager identifies one or two people who can fill the same role and then, through a board of directors that includes all managers, We compare ourselves on the organigram of the following year, going to elect people for each role.
How is the choice of the driver who will run in competitions, and what are his responsibilities?
The choice of the driver is, also in this case, through a special selection, which takes place in karting through a session on the track. Among the candidates (usually about 50-60), those who rank best are chosen based on different aspects, such as the best time on lap, but also the number of cuts or other errors.
The pilot’s responsibility is mainly towards the vehicle and the work that other members have done to provide him with a working, reliable and efficient prototype. He is also the one who provides feedback to engineers designing and fine-tuning the car. Its feedback is useful for understanding how to set up subsystems to improve vehicle performance, as well as identifying weaknesses in the design for the following year.
Are there any training sessions during this course?
Certainly, the same path is actually a long period of training, punctuated by many opportunities.
The experience of working within a team allows, especially for younger members, to grow much from a technical and organizational point of view, learning to experiment and interact with different departments, In addition to applying concepts which remain purely theoretical in universities. It is possible to complete the university course with a much more practical aspect.
During our experience, thanks to the partners, we have also various training opportunities: from the possibility of organizing seminars with specific topics in the motorsport sector, to close collaboration with some companies, as for example that with our Main Partners, Ducati and Lamborghini.
To give a concrete example, with Lamborghini we had the opportunity this year to laminate two carbon monocoques for our two cars, directly inside the Composite Development Center of Sant’Agata Bolognese. This meant a very useful practical training time for the team members, some of them also having opportunities to work on their thesis or as interns.
Such partnerships are on the agenda and are sought out and initiated with all the partner companies in the project.
What is the role of the university in UniBo MotorSport?
The University is our glue, it is our membership pool because all members are university students.
The university then puts us in an important condition of autonomy and provides us with a place where we can perform all the tasks necessary to fulfill our goals.
Through contacts with professors who are interested in supporting the project, we can then have access to some university laboratories to carry out tests/ work with their support, and this is essential for us
How is the typical day of a student who is part of the UniBo MotorSport team structured?
The average student in the team goes to university for classes and/or exams during the morning. In the late afternoon he goes to the workshop, where his team is waiting for him to work. Here he applies the knowledge he has acquired during his academic career and at the same time acquires as much in the field, designing, manufacturing and testing components of any kind that will be applied to the prototype.
Depending on the time of year, when you go to the workshop you work on design/simulation programs or you build components of the bike, from electronics to composite chassis.
During the test season, the student goes to test the prototypes with the team, working shoulder-to-shoulder with colleagues.
Among your partners there are important names from the Motor Valley, such as the Imola Circuit, Lamborghini and the Ducati Foundation. How do they support your work during the year and in preparation for competitions?
Each partner supports us in a different way and has different interests in working with us.
The two main partners, Lamborghini and Ducati, provide both financial and technical support. The financial support allows us to buy commercial components and perform mechanical processing to make our prototypes. Technical support is provided in various forms. Lamborghini, for example, hosts us in its factories for the production of carbon monocoques.
The Imola Circuit, on the other hand, has been hosting our usual “Unveiling” for two years now, the prototype presentation event that allows us to show our partners the work done during the year, as well as being a great networking opportunity.
What does it mean to you to be part of the Motor Valley?
Motor Valley is first and foremost an opportunity for us. With its ecosystem of companies, diverse realities and people passionate about engines is undoubtedly the most prosperous Italian area for the automation sector, mechatronics, automotive and motorsport in particular.
The Motor Valley is a territory that allows us to cultivate our passion and grow in many aspects, including technical, personal and organizational.
Let’s talk about competitions. How many other university teams do you face during the competition, and what kind of relationship is there between you?
For the SAE Formula, there are around 550 teams in the world, of which 270 in Europe; during a single competition the number of teams entered can vary between 50 and 100, distributed among the various categories: CV (Combustion Vehicle), EV (Electric Vehicle) and DV (Driverless Vehicle).
As for MotoStudent, in the main competition held in Aragon, there are about 80 international teams, divided into two categories “Petrol” and “Electric”.
The relationship between teams is obviously competitive, but there are always friendly encounters that sometimes lead to true cooperation and friendship.
What competitions do you participate in each year?
The SAE Formula Italy, as a home event, is the first competition we participate in every year in Varano de’ Melegari.
There are also several competitions in the rest of Europe to which we try to be admitted every year through the appropriate entrance tests: FSG (Germany, Hockenheim Ring), FSA (Austria, RedBull Ring), FSEast (Mogyorod, Hungaroring), FSS (Spain, Montmelò), etc.
This year we will be present at four important competitions, the SAE Formula Italy (CV + EV), the Formula Student Austria (EV), the Formula Student East (CV) and the Formula Student Alpe Adria (EV + CV).
As regards the electric motorcycle project, the main competitions are MotoStudent electric in Aragon and Moto Engineering Italy.
Both are engineering competitions, where the team that crosses the finish line first does not win but the engineering and management quality at the basis of the project is evaluated through documentation and presentations.
Formula SAE is coming, how do you feel? What are your expectations and which teams should be in the crosshairs?
Our point of reference are usually the German teams, who typically rule throughout the league.
Having said that, we have no particular concerns about the other teams. We always think about giving the best and bringing home the best possible result, within the limits of our capabilities. For the rest we are very excited, we can not wait to bring our prototypes on track!
What are the most satisfying moments during this journey?
The route is a rollercoaster of emotions, there are many intense moments of work and commitment, followed by great gratification for the results obtained.
The main satisfaction is certainly when, working in a group, innovative solutions are found. It is no less important to see the prototype come to life thanks to one’s own work and commitment.
What will the experience in UniBo Motorsport bring to your future? Would you like to continue your career in the field of MotorSport?
This experience will have a significant impact on our career; the team helps us every day to overcome limits, to acquire new skills, to learn how to work and to collaborate within a team. The growth of members is not only a technical but also human and interpersonal growth, and this is fundamental to enter the working fabric and bring improvements and innovation.
Many students are looking to pursue a career in MotorSport and the team is an excellent springboard for achieving this goal. Other students aim to enter more corporate realities. It is an experience that allows us to move between different areas and understand which is the best way for our future work.
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