Meet the team
We bring you an exclusive interview with the management of our team. In the interview, team leader Marek Viktořík and technical leader Tomáš Velfl gave us an insight into the world of motor engineering and the dynamics of work at TU Brno Racing. Both leaders share their personal experiences of developing the key skills they gained while participating in the project.
TEAM LEADER
Marek VIKTOŘÍK
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering & Institute of Forensic Engineering
Team leader is responsible for the organization and the management of the team, communication with sponsors, finance (keeping the buffet stocked), organization of promoting events and overall smooth running of the team.
TECHNICAL LEADER
Tomáš VELFL
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
The technical leader supervises the functionality and drivability of the entire car. His work is therefore the connection of individual sections into a functional whole.
What inspired you to join the Formula Student team?
Marek: From a young age I was interested in motorsport, especially motorbikes. At BUT I wanted to gain more experience through projects and make friends with the same interests. In the end I didn’t find friends. I found family.
Tomáš: An interest in doing something extra in free time and lifelong passion in various forms of motorsport.
What skills have you gained or improved upon by being part of the Formula Student team?
Marek: Very important is to know how to work in a team and communicate with others. Those are the basic skills that greatly ease the work for everybody in the team. Specific for Formula Student project is that we have the opportunity to put theoretical knowledge into practice. I gained many new insights into the technical functioning of a vehicle, the dynamics of a vehicle, and drive system both combustion and electric. It also taught me a sense of responsibility and the importance of meeting challenging deadlines.
Tomáš: In the first place, knowledge, from the basics of the race car functioning, through practical experience supplementing the theoretical lessons at school. I expanded my knowledge in the field of composite materials and their processing, using several different software and programming. While working on the formula, I learned everything from the structural design of the part, through its manufacturing to its assembly on the car and subsequent testing. It is also necessary to know how to work in graphs and numbers.
What is the most exciting aspect of working in the team for you?
Marek: An amazing team, constantly pushing the limits and getting better every season. The fact that it’s not just about the formula, it’s about pushing the whole team forward.
Tomáš: The opportunity to take responsibility for a large project on which the work of others also depends, which leads to learning to work under pressure in a competitive environement. And that all during your studies. After graduating, it can take some time to develop your position in your new workplace and to get to more interesting projects in your future company. It´s a great satisfaction to see your work integrated into the car making it better, faster, and more reliable.
How do you balance your academic studies with your responsibilities in the team?
Marek: I haven’t figured that out yet myself.
Tomáš: Very difficult, one has to work all day long and sometimes don´t go to sleep. It´s about managing time, prioritizing, and letting go of secondary activities.
What is the most valuable lesson you have learned from your experience in the Formula Student team?
Marek: That you need to be able to learn from your own mistakes and effectively pass on your experience so that your mistakes are not unnecessarily repeated by younger generations. I have also learned not to put off until tomorrow what I can do today or it will catch up with me over time.
Tomáš: Every problem and hardship are solvable from my experience in the team. Never give up and you will always find a way. Even if it is really not solvable in given amount of time, you can always at least do your best to achieve best possible outcome, it may mean that it won´t be perfect, but you can sleep peacefully knowing that you tried hard.
Can you share a memorable moment or achievement from your time in the team?
Marek: Certainly, an unexpected win in Engineering Design at FS East in 2022, and when the formula starts to move for the first time and everything is working after the demanding design and production.
Tomáš: The most iconic moment for me is every time we demold a new monocoque after more than a month of continuous preparation and seemingly endless manufacturing. Completed endurance event in Germany, the most prestigious Formula student race, is also worth mentioning.
What advice would you give to someone interested in joining the Formula Student team?
Marek: Don’t be afraid. To be in the team, it is enough to be interested in a wide range of things. Then everyone will find area that interests them and in which they can develop. Thanks to this, the formula can be improved in every way each year.
Tomáš: Ask a lot of questions, don´t be shy. There is no such thing as a stupid question, only stupid answer.
