Its Lights Out At Albert Park: The First Race Of The F1 Championship Season

Watching Formula One is a stimulating experience for most car and motorsport enthusiasts. If you are a fan of fast cars, power-packed races, and stunning racetracks then you have to tune in to the Australian Grand Prix. It is the most anticipated race of the season. The Australian Grand Prix is the season opener and sets the tempo for the F1 season ahead, many fans deem this as the ‘race you cannot miss’. Formula One being a very exclusive event you still have fans from all over the country and the world travel to Melbourne to visit Albert Park to witness the round 1 of the FIA Formula One World Championship.

Typical attendance over the weekend in Australia is around 300 000 spectators, with a crowd in excess of 100 000 on race day. This year marks the 25th Formula 1 race to have been held at Albert Park, since its debut in 1996, which was won by Damon Hill in a Renault. Melbourne began hosting the Australian Grand Prix at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit (Albert Park) in 1996, taking over from Adelaide, which hosted the race from 1985-1995.The Albert Park circuit in Melbourne held non-championship Grand Prix races in the fifties. A revised circuit joined the world championship calendar in 1996. At the same time, the race moved from being the last race of the season to the first and has normally held the opening race of the season since then.

Michael Schumacher is the most successful driver at Albert Park, scoring four wins (2000,2001,2002,2004). Sebastian Vettel, who won at Albert Park in 2011,2017 and 2018 could equal Schumacher’s tally at the 2020 Australian Grand Prix, however, due to the COVID-19 situation will have to wait until next time… The Albert Park circuit is semi-permanent, meaning it's not a full-time racing venue. For most of the year, the roads that make up the bulk of the race track are open to the public and anyone can drive on them.

The Albert Park circuit is one of the faster circuits on the F1 race calendar. The track is well laid out allowing for drivers to race at high speeds. Albert Park can get bumpy and has some uneven surfaces as well. The bumpy nature of the track requires drivers to have a very good front suspension set up allowing them to have maximum control while cornering and combating slippery surfaces.

‘All men are created equal, but some work harder in pre-season’. F1 drivers need to go through a rigorous 8-week program that will get them into shape for the upcoming season. This includes taking care of their physical, psychological, and most importantly their diets too. Race teams work tirelessly in pre-season too, giving the best race drivers in the world the means to go on and win the prestigious F1 World Championship. Being the first race of the year, the Australian Grand Prix is filled with excitement and anticipation and certainly, a must-watch for all car, motorsport fans across the globe! 

Team Kshatriya - One Of India's Best BAJA SAE Teams

College racing events such as Formula Student, BAJA SAE are very popular in engineering colleges, universities across the globe. These events offer engineering students a very good platform to leverage what they have learned in theory and put it into practice by building a race car. India has very good college racing teams like IIT Bombay Racing (Electric) and Pravega Racing (Combustion) who participate at the highest levels of Formula Student globally. Apart from Formula Bharat; BAJA SAE and Enduro Student India are amongst the leading college racing competitions in India. We are going to tell you more about Team Kshatriya who has been one of the oldest and highly successful BAJA SAE teams from India.

Team Kshatriya is a leading BAJA SAE team based out of VIT, Vellore in India. Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore is one of India’s top engineering colleges and is also the home of Pravega Racing – India’s best Formula Student (Combustion) team. Team Kshatriya participates in BAJA SAE India and Enduro Student India which take place at Pithampur and Pune in India respectively. BAJA SAE is an inter-college student design competition run by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). The competition challenges college racing teams and aspiring engineers to design, build and race off-road vehicles that can tackle the harshest terrain. The cars designed by teams in BAJA competitions are very similar to dune buggies.

Team Kshatriya was founded in 2006 by a group of mechanical engineering students from VIT, Vellore. Team Kshatriya was one of the first all-student motorsport teams of India and also the first Indian team to participate in BAJA SAE South Africa. With the inception of BAJA SAE India in 2007, Team Kshatriya shifted focus to the new competition making it their primary competitive event annually. The events in BAJA SAE India are divided into 2 categories – Static Events and Dynamic Events. The Static Events include – Design Report Presentation, Cost Evaluation, Business Plan Presentation, CAE Evaluation (Bonus Event), Go Green Challenge (Bonus Event); whereas the Dynamic Events include – Acceleration, Rock Crawl, Suspension, and Traction, Maneuverability, Endurance Race. BAJA SAE India sees over 400+ college racing teams participate every year, hence making the competition a great proving ground for talented young engineers and a hotbed of innovation.

Team Kshatriya has a strength of 46 members who are bonafide students of VIT, Vellore; each playing a crucial role in the success of the team. The team members are divided across various departments – Vehicle Dynamics, Transmission, Brakes, Design, Electrical and Management. Team Kshatriya’s current car is Vikrant which is combustion vehicle powered by a single-cylinder 305cc 10HP air-cooled, Briggs & Stratton OHV Intake Model (engine is event specified, all teams have to use the same engine with no other modifications) mated to a customized CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) gearbox. The car can reach a top speed of above 60 km/hr and has a relatively short turning radius of 1.8 meters.

Many college racing teams are funded and managed by students themselves. Like a lot of college racing teams in India, Team Kshatriya has often found it difficult to raise funds via sponsorships and partnerships. However, this has not curbed their innovation and determination to be the best. Kshatriya was one of the first BAJA teams in India to make the switch from a manual transmission to a customized CVT. The custom CVT transmission was built by the team members of Kshatriya themselves! Kshatriya is among the handful of teams who have custom-built their braking system which includes the master cylinder, brake calipers, and brake rotors as well. A short turning radius is very handy, especially in an off-road vehicle. Team Kshatriya is one amongst the very few teams who have achieved a turning radius of 1.8 meters (under 2 meters). 

Team Kshatriya believes in constantly improving from their learnings over the past events and experiences. This is crucial to their success and being amongst the leading teams in India. Before beginning work on their next car, Kshatriya internally discusses and collectively learns from their shortcomings in the previous events and works towards strengthening themselves in all departments. The collective inputs of all team members are paramount to the success of a race team and Kshatriya follows this process very diligently. Kshatriya team members are a mix of freshers, juniors, and senior members with regard to their course completion at VIT. The freshers are inducted during their first year of college and are groomed, trained under the seniors of the team this form of mentorship helps for better managerial planning within the organization and also helps juniors be well-groomed and trained to lead the various departments of the team in the future. The development of a new car comes in 3 phases – Design, Manufacturing, Testing, and Validation. Each of these phases plays a very crucial part in the making of the final car.

While they are a race team, Kshatriya is run like an organization having its own processes and systems. This further enhances the holistic development of team members and the experience shapes them to be ready for the real corporate world. The main aim of Team Kshatriya is to become the best BAJA SAE team in India and winning the coveted BAJA SAE India championship. With a strong foundation, innovative approach, great teamwork, and above all the determination to succeed Team Kshatriya are well on their way to do the same. We at AutoGuru India are proud to have been associated with Team Kshatriya and are very happy to get their story out to the masses! Watch this space for more!

Car Of The Week - Rolls Royce Phantom

Spirits are supernatural beings, the existence of which remains debatable and is rather unknown. Well, in the car world spirits definitely exist! The spirits in the car world we are referring to are Rolls Royce cars. All Rolls Royce cars are named after a spirit or supernatural object. Rolls Royce cars are the gold standard for automotive luxury and a benchmark in themselves, in a league of their own. Rolls Royce cars are a perfect fit for the crème de la crème of the society - royalty, heads of state, VVIPs, billionaires. The Rolls Royce flagship – Phantom has for many generations been the best and most luxurious car in the world, we are going to tell you more about ‘the best car in the world’.

The Rolls Royce Phantom has been around for a long time and is currently in its eighth generation. The Rolls Royce Phantom was introduced in 1925 (popularly known as the Phantom I) as a replacement for the Rolls Royce Silver Ghost. Rolls Royce, the world’s premier manufacturer of ultra-luxury cars allows for a lot of customization and personalization to their cars. Hence, giving the Rolls Royce customer the freedom to customize and personalize a majority of the car elements to their individual tastes and preferences. Ever since the early days of the brand, only the engine and chassis were manufactured by Rolls Royce while the remaining of the car body was manufactured by individual coachbuilders basis the individual tastes and preferences of customers. As time has progressed, Rolls Royce manufacturers some body components in-house yet offering a lot of personalization by the customer. The 1925 Phantom was powered by a 7.7 L six-cylinder petrol engine producing 50 bhp of max power output.

The Rolls Royce Phantom III was introduced in 1936 and was the last pre-war Rolls Royce. The Phantom III was more fluidic and aerodynamic in design than its predecessors. The car was powered by a massive V12 petrol engine made using an aluminum alloy. This was the first time Rolls Royce had used a V12 engine, the next would be in 1998. The Phantom III was the last car company founder Henry Royce had worked on. After the war Rolls Royce marked their return to production with the introduction of the Rolls Royce Phantom IV – the most exclusive Rolls Royce ever made. The Phantom IV was the first car manufactured by Rolls Royce after the war, a decade since the Phantom III. The new Phantom was a masterclass of beauty and luxury, and if you wanted to get your hands on one you would have to be part of a very elite list. Only 18 units of the Phantom IV were produced exclusively for royalty and heads of state.  The car was powered by 5.7 L and 6.5 L straight-eight engines mated to manual and automatic gearboxes.

BMW group bought BMW in 1990 and the Rolls Royce Phantom VII became the first Rolls Royce flagship to be developed under BMW. The Phantom VII was introduced in 2003 and manufactured at the Goodwood plant. The new Phantom had a modern styling and came with various body type configurations – 4-door saloon, 2-door coupe, and a drophead coupe. The Phantom VII was powered 6.75 L V12 engine producing 454 bhp and mated to a 6-speed ZF gearbox. The Rolls Royce brand is a true testament of bespoke luxury and attention to detail. A majority of the car is still made by hand by trained craftsmen ensuring the use of the highest quality of materials. Rolls Royce customers are allowed to choose from over 44,000 different color options and any specific leather. The overall list of features and customizations on offer is massive! It takes about 3-4 months on average for Rolls Royce to manufacture each Phantom.  

The current Rolls Royce Phantom is now in its eighth-generation and was introduced in 2017. The current-gen Phantom is built on an entirely new, all-aluminum platform called the ‘Architecture of Luxury’. This platform is shared with the Cullinan SUV as well. The latest-gen Phantom is a great blend of tradition and tech. The current Phantom features a transparent glass compartment within the dashboard of the car known as ‘The Gallery’. Owners can customize and display decorative artwork inside the gallery, hence making each Phantom unique. This is just one example of Rolls Royce taking luxury and engineering to another level and cementing their place at the very pinnacle of car luxury. The Phantom has exceptional noise and cabin insulation with extensive usage of padding and noise reduction materials. The car gets an electronically controlled air-suspension and comes with the biggest air springs out there. This ensures passengers get the best drive comfort money can buy. The latest Phantom is powered by a 6.75 L twin-turbocharged V12 producing 563 bhp of max power and 900 nm of max torque mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox.

The founders of Rolls Royce – Charles Rolls and Henry Royce started the company in 1904 with a clear intention to make the ‘best car in the world’. The Rolls Royce Phantom with 8 generations and close to a century since introduction has more than lived up to that intention. The Rolls Royce Phantom remains at the top of not only the car world but also the world of luxury.

Mira Erda - 'The Speed Queen of India'

India has produced some very good race drivers like – Narain Karthikeyan, Karun Chandhok, Gaurav Gill, Armaan Ebrahim, and Aditya Patel all of whom have gone on to represent India at the international level and perform well. Out of these drivers, only Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok have participated in F1. India’s next-gen drivers like – Mira Erda, Arjun Maini, Kush Maini, Jehan Daruvala, Akhil Rabindra, Sohil Shah have very good potential and are well on their way towards a lot of success in their careers.

Mira discovered her love for racing at the age of 9 when she first tried her hand on a go-kart at her father’s go-kart track in Baroda. Mira’s father Kirit Erda, recognized Mira’s potential and motivated her to take up competitive racing. Mira’s first tryst with competitive racing came in 2010 when she participated in the JK Tyre National Rotax Max Championship…with only 25 days of training! Later that year Mira participated in her first international race – the Plus Yamaha SL International Challenge in Malaysia.

In 2011, Mira got her first race wins and podiums. That year she won the Most Improved Driver Award, there has been no looking back ever since. Consistency is the key to success; Mira lives by this mantra and dedicates a lot of her time perfecting her craft be it on the race track or fitness while in the gym. Her consistent performances and undeniable potential paid off when she made her way into the 2014 JK Racing Championship, becoming the youngest female Formula 4 driver. There is no denying that Motorsport is male-dominated. Mira realized this very early in her career as a majority of her competitors across various races were male. She recounts a lot of her competitors wrote her off, but instead of this demoralizing her she took this up as a challenge and was determined to beat them all, thereby fuelling her desire to be the best version of herself and give it her all.

For a race driver, the transition from a go-kart to a race car is not an easy one. Race cars are bigger, heavier, and more powerful. They have different driving dynamics, body control, and braking when compared to go-karts. Mira too found it difficult initially to transition and adapt to a Formula race car. With constant practice, guidance from her mentors like Akbar Ebrahim, Mira successfully mastered the formula-style race car. When asked about her inspiration Mira replies “I want to be the best version of myself!”. Mira may only be 19 years old, but her approach and mentality speaks volumes and showcases her maturity, understanding, focus. Current F1 driver Max Verstappen from Red Bull Racing is someone Mira looks up to. Mira favors Verstappen’s aggressive driving style, risk-taking ability and driving skill. She tries to incorporate the same in her driving, but being an experiential learner, she has understood the importance of maintaining a fine balance between an aggressive driving style and a composed one that is very crucial for success.

The year 2016 was a great one for Mira, she became the Formula 4 rookie champion of the year and was also honored by the FMSCI the governing body for Motorsport in India with the Outstanding Woman in Motorsport Award. In 2017, Mira took part in the Euro JK Series – one of the highest classes of Formula racing in India and became the first Indian woman to do so. An outstanding feat at such a young age! Unfortunately, Mira faced issues with her car and was not able to give her best but, the experience did not deviate from her main aim and focus – to be an F1 driver. From her experience at the Euro JK Series she realized while competing with the best Indian drivers that there was a lot more room for improvement. She set out to improve her driving, technical skills, and better understand her car. Mira believes in constant improvement and is an avid learner. Throughout her career, Akbar Ebrahim, often regarded as the ‘Father of Indian Motorsport’ along with Sanjay Sharma – Head of JK Tyres Motorsport has been mentors for Mira. Their guidance, motivation, and support has always been well received, appreciated by Mira; hence making her the driver she is today.

In 2019, Mira made it to the top 50 who qualifiers of the inaugural W Series by the FIA. The W Series is an elite all-women driver championship where 18 of the best women drivers would do battle to be the best. Mira traveled to Austria for the qualifiers and along with fellow Indian racer Sneha Sharma was the only other representative from India. The qualifiers were a real challenge for Mira as she was not used to driving in variable weather conditions like snow and ice, the car to be driven was a production left-hand drive car. Being used to driving on the right-hand side in India, this posed as a challenge to Mira. The added pressure of going up against the best women drivers goes without saying. While the experience at the W Series qualifiers wasn’t exactly what she had hoped for Mira took this in her stride and regrouped herself, committed to being the best at what she loves doing – racing.

Her amazing performances got Mira a seat on in the AD Racing team at the inaugural 2019 X1 Racing League in India. Mira grabbed the opportunity with both her hands and drove very well to help her team to podiums. Her experience at X1 Racing League helped Mira network with and compete against top drivers from all over the world (both male and female).

Mira Erda is an inspiration, not only for women but all aspirants wanting to get into racing. She has achieved so much during her relatively young career, resonates with the potential she posses and the bright career she has in front of her. With an aim of driving in Formula 3 and securing a seat at the W Series finals in the near future, Mira is poised to take the next step in her career. The future for Indian motorsport is bright and the ‘Speed Queen of India’ Mira Erda is one of the leading torchbearers.

Car Of The Week - Williams FW18

Formula One is the holy grail of car racing. In the world of Motorsport, F1 is one of the most prestigious and sought-after championships. In car racing, the skill and driving ability of the driver along with the reliability and performance of the car are essential keys to success. Motorsport has seen many successful cars over the course of its history to the present day. The 1996 F1 championship-winning Williams FW18 is a car for the history books and has etched its name well in the motorsport hall of fame. We are going to tell you more about this awesome car!

The Williams FW18 was an F1 race car used by the Williams Grand Prix Engineering team (currently known as ROKiT Williams Racing) in the 1996 season. The FW18 was driven by former F1 world champions Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve. The 1996 season turned out to be a very successful season for Williams as they won both the constructors championship and Hill, Villeneuve finishing the driver’s championship first and second respectively. The FW18 had an edge over the rest and was the fastest of the lot. Williams Racing is a British F1 racing team based out of Grove in the UK. Williams Racing was founded in 1977 by Sir Frank Williams and Sir Patrick Head. Till date, Williams has won 9 F1 titles and have had some great drivers the likes of – Damon Hill, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Jensen Button, Ayrton Senna, Jacques Villeneuve amongst many others who have driven for them.

Many teams in F1 have partnerships with car manufacturers for engines. Williams has enjoyed a very successful engine partnership with French car giant Renault, having won 5 of their 9 F1 titles with them. 1996 season dominating FW18 was also powered by a Renault engine. An interesting fact – The ‘FW’ in Williams Racing cars stands for Frank Williams the owner of the team and is then followed by a number; all Williams Racing cars follow this tradition. The FW18 was based on the 1995 FW17 car. The FW18 was designed by then Technical Director Sir Patrick Head and Chief Designer Adrian Newey. With changes in F1 rules and regulations requiring more driver protection and a lower seating position for the drivers, the Williams team could further enhance the design and performance of the previous FW17 along with the required rule changes. The lower seating position of the driver gave way for a lower center of gravity and aided in improving the handling of the new FW18.

Sir Patrick Head and Adrian Newey worked tirelessly on the design of the FW18 making it more aerodynamic, hence increasing the speed and performance of the car. Wind tunnels were used extensively. The FW18 was powered by a Renault sourced 3.0 L V10 engine producing 750 bhp of max power output at 14500 rpm mated to a 6-speed paddle-shift gearbox. The FW18 underwent extensive testing in pre-season with Damon Hill driving over 9000 km in the car which would go on to win 75% of all races in the 1996 season. To summarize the success of the Williams team with the FW18 – 12 poles, 11 fastest laps, 12 race victories, 21 podiums, the constructor’s championship, and a 1-2 finish for the drivers of the team. Now that’s an amazing CV for any race car!   

The Williams FW18 legacy was continued by the successful FW19, hence giving Williams Racing 2 very good seasons. Yes, technology has progressed by leaps and bounds in present-day F1 but the Williams FW18 still remains one of the best F1 cars ever. Which car do you think in present-day F1 can give the FW18 a run for its money? Let us know! 

Best Racing Circuits In The UK

Race tracks are the proving grounds for both race cars and drivers. The race circuit is much more than tarmac sections designed along a course to test the skill of drivers and push cars to their peak performance level. Race circuits have a rich history and have been playing a very important role in the development of Motorsport. The UK has been a very integral part of the Motorsport world. Brooklands, the world’s first purpose-built racing circuit was built in 1907 in Surry, England, UK. The UK has a lot of racing circuits, but Silverstone, Brands Hatch, and Donington Park are the ones that stand out from the rest. We are going to tell you more about them and what makes them so popular!

The Silverstone circuit is the UK’s most popular racing circuit and the current home of the British F1 Grand Prix. Often regarded as the ‘Home of British Motor Racing’ the Silverstone circuit was opened in 1948 and held its first race the British Grand Prix in 1950. Similar to a lot of race circuits in the UK Silverstone was an airfield used by the British armed forces during World War 2 and then converted into a race circuit. The Silverstone circuit holds the distinction of being the only British race circuit to host a member of the British Royal Family when King George VI attended the 1950 European Grand Prix. Silverstone is a very fast and technical circuit. The circuit has many straights, overtaking areas with a good mix of sudden turns which all combined make for a very thrilling experience both for the drivers as well as spectators. Silverstone is well situated at the center of a motorsport hub. ‘Motorsport Valley’ as it is more commonly known is within close proximity of the 6 F1 teams based out of the UK. Being a major race circuit Silverstone has led to the overall development of the motorsport industry in the vicinity. Major car manufacturers such as Porsche and Aston Martin have their driving experience and development centers here as well. British F1 driver Lewis Hamilton currently holds the lap record at Silverstone with a time of 1:27.369 recorded at the 2019 British F1 Grand Prix.

Brands Hatch is a race circuit that has a rich history and motorsport heritage. Brands Hatch started off as a grass track style motorcycle racing circuit in 1926. While Silverstone is currently hosting the British Grand Prix, Brands Hatch hosted the same event on 12 occasions from 1964 to 1986. Brands Hatch is a circuit which has its own unique aura. The circuit is covered with forests and greenery, this also happens to be a natural amphitheater. The Brands Hatch circuit is a spectacle to witness both for the drivers and spectators alike. The topography and natural surroundings at Brands Hatch make the circuit a very challenging one for the driver as they have to deal with a lot of dips, bends, and sudden elevation changes. The spectators get a very good overall view of the circuit, making it a very joyous occasion for them. Brands Hatch may not be as active as it used to be in the past, however, it continues to remain one of UK’s best and most loved circuits!

Donington Park is UK’s oldest race circuit still in operation. The first race at Donington Park took place in 1931. Donington Park was originally part of the Donington Hall Estate, after a lot of changes and revisions it was converted into a race circuit. Donington Park held one of the most thrilling F1 races, the 1993 European Grand Prix which was won by one of the best race drivers of all time – Ayrton Senna. The opening lap of 1993 European Grad Prix by Senna is regarded by many as one of the best laps in F1 history! Apart from F1 Donington Park also holds numerous other events such as – British Touring Championship, F3 amongst others.

The UK has been at the forefront of Motorsport from its origins. The UK is home to numerous race circuits and all of them have played a crucial part in maintaining the UK's dominance at the top of global Motorsport. 

Understanding Your Car - Drag Reduction System (DRS)

Motorsport has been at the very forefront of a lot of new technology and innovation for the entire car industry. Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport and automotive performance. F1 is the biggest proving ground for performance-enhancing technology and innovation. An F1 car has a lot of tech, systems, and modifications that allow the driver to reach lightning fast speeds while pushing the cars to their limit. DRS is one such technology that aids the driver in driving faster. Let’s find out more about DRS!

The Drag Reduction System or DRS is a driver-adjustable bodywork which enables the reduction of drag on a car and allows for achieving better top speed and ease of overtaking. When a car is traveling at a very high speed it cuts through the air in front. This displaces the air causing wind resistance or drag. Drag affects the flow of air around the car, and this creates friction thereby not allowing the car to reach the maximum speed possible. Car manufacturers and race engineers design their cars in the most aerodynamic way possible to reduce the effect of drag on the car.

DRS was first introduced in F1 in 2011. DRS is an innovation that allows for better overtaking and makes the sport more exciting. The rear wing of the F1 car has an adjustable section – the flap which can be deployed by the driver under conditions where DRS is allowed. When DRS is enabled by the driver the adjustable flap of the rear wing lifts to create an opening for the flowing air to pass by easily. Hence, allowing the car to attain a higher speed and easier overtaking maneuvers. The DRS is activated by the driver by pressing a button on the steering wheel, this sends an electric command to an actuator which lifts the rear wing. Each F1 race track around the world has designated DRS zones, only when a car is in a DRS zone can the driver deploy DRS. The driver is notified when DRS can be enabled. DRS can only be used under the following conditions and rules – 

• The following car is within one second of the car to be overtaken. 
• The following car is in the overtaking zone or DRS zone as designated by the FIA before the race. 
• DRS can only be used after the first 2 laps of a race start, restart or a safety car deployment. The defending driver can only use DRS when he is one within one second of the car in front. DRS may not be deployed if the racing conditions are deemed dangerous by the race director.

The DRS system is deactivated when the driver presses the DRS button or automatically when brakes are applied. DRS is also used in the F2, F3 Championship and the GP3 Series. Technologies and innovations such as DRS are aplenty in the world of Motorsport, hence playing their part in making Motorsport one of the most exciting and fun sports to watch, follow in the world!