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The great presentation of our former colleague Jorge Pastor at the EHU
Last Friday, October 3rd, we had the pleasure of welcoming Jorge Pastor to the auditorium of the Faculty of Engineering where he gave a talk about his experience working in rallies.
Jorge Pastor was the team leader of Formula Student Vitoria and we are very proud of how far he has come purely through his talent.
His presentation was truly special; it was clear he gave it with the intention of showing the audience something he was genuinely passionate about. He wasn't trying to convince us of anything, but simply to share his experiences and knowledge. His career in the world of motorsport, though not yet very long, is already quite renowned, having worked as a race engineer for Skoda, Hyundai, and recently, Toyota, with the GR Yaris Rally2. All these diverse experiences have given him a wealth of knowledge, which he shared with us all.
To begin, he gave us a general overview of how he got into this line of work and the preparation he needed to get there. It's worth noting that he studied Automotive Engineering and later completed a master's degree specializing in motorsports in Barcelona, but an interesting point he made was that he very quickly started showing up at the paddocks to introduce himself and offer his help.
Jorge insisted that this was really the key if you want to work in the world of rallies, because there is a lot of secrecy and they don't usually offer jobs; rather, you have to approach them in person and ask for a spot.
He showed us the more technical aspects of being a race engineer, the programs and tools he uses, how to interpret them, and the responsibilities that come with the position. Although theoretically he should focus on the more strategic aspects of the race, he also revealed that in many cases he had to take on the role of mechanic himself, carrying out certain changes and repairs, and many other responsibilities that one must be aware of before entering this type of work.
He also spoke to us about aspects of the racing world that, although often overlooked, are very important. He reiterated time and again how crucial it is for the driver to be completely happy with the car and with themselves before competing, because otherwise, they simply won't reach the vehicle's full potential, no matter how well-tuned it is. Drivers sometimes have rituals and quirks that must be respected and understood to ensure peak performance, and Jorge shared some very interesting examples. One driver used to put shaving cream on his windshield to prevent it from fogging up, and when Jorge thoughtfully bought the can for him, he was delighted. With that, Jorge knew he would be racing at his best, much more energized.
He dedicated a significant portion of the presentation to explaining how a vehicle's dynamics work during a race and the setup differences that must be considered based on countless factors. It's easy to summarize by saying there's one setup for asphalt and another for low-grip surfaces like gravel, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Nevertheless, he emphasized that adjusting these settings mid-race isn't entirely feasible; it's not a video game, and almost all decisions must be made before the first stage even begins.
Although Jorge presented to an audience mostly made up of people who knew something about the subject, he explained everything in a way that anyone could understand, which is quite an achievement when you're explaining the engineering behind each component of the car.
We would love for her to come back soon and tell us about her new experiences; her career in this world has only just begun and she still has many experiences and knowledge to share with us.
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