Interviewed by : Stefanie Mansiagun

PC : Amit Shibu

Over the past 6 months, if you’d ever dropped by the print shop for last minute record printouts, chances are you’d have heard the sound of a hammer being banged against steel. If you’d investigated the source of that noise, it’s also highly likely that you’d be blinded by the bright light of a chassis being welded. If you’d happened to look up before that, you’d see the sign that belongs to Rajagiri’s very own SAE Workshop – Overdrive Racing.

Happening at the Buddh International Circuit in Delhi between the 13th and 16th of August is SAE Supra, one of India’s most prestigious engineering competitions, where students from all over the country come together to test out formula racecars that they’ve built. The journey was no easy feat, and we sat down with the gearheads who brought this vision to life.

As Captain and Vice-Captain of Overdrive Racing, Saahil Rajesh and Savio Sebastian of S7 Mech Beta are responsible for leading the design, development and management of the team. As true gearheads, they’ve dedicated most of the last two semesters to this passion project, which happened to be inspired from their experiences at Supra 2024. 

There’s a clear line to be drawn between expectations and reality—something that any newcomer to the club would be reminded of by Savio. It’s easy to be whisked away by the adrenaline rush of engineering your fantasies. A hefty sponsorship of 2.6 lakhs can’t do all of the heavy lifting; finding a loyal team that’s ready to put in the hours is just as important. 

One key revision that was made this year was the split up of departments. After realizing that one of the previous year’s pitfalls  was the sole focus on the engineering side of things, the team was reorganized into R&D, Design & Manufacturing , Inventory Management, Documentation and Marketing & Sponsorship, each of which had its own vetting process during recruitment.

There’s plenty to be learned outside of the classroom when it comes to team related efforts like these. No matter how many group activities, discussions or projects you’re forced to participate in, nothing serves as a greater motivator than being proud of what you’ve built together. However, classroom knowledge is just as important. “I don’t want people to join this club thinking they can just wing it. When you’re someone who designs, you’ll look back at your notes, and it’ll just click – why you learned what you learned.” Subjects like Mechanics of Fluids, Mechanics of Solids, Dynamics and Design of Machinery and Design of Machine Elements have concepts and formulae that are directly tied to the process. “You have to know how and when to use what. You have to iterate to a point till when what you’ve learned and what you want match.” Some concepts that you could pick up at the club include metal working, welding and engineering drawing. 

Saahil and Savio admit that they could not have pulled it off without the efforts of their faculty advisors, Mr. Vineeth Krishna and Mr. John Paul CD and their Head of Department, Dr. Mathew Joseph. Dr. Ajithkumar A helped the team with CFD of the airflow over the front nose, and Dr. Manoj G Tharian provided his insights. Mr. Jerin Thankachan assisted with the wiring of the ECU, RR unit and the wiring harness placement and the chain drive. The department has contributed to the utmost of their capabilities to ensure the success of the project.

When asked about what a typical day at the workshop looks like, Saahil laughs and looks down at his fiberglass speckled appearance. He’s often involved with cutting and grinding materials, accompanied by his teammates Vishnu and Ganesh. Building a car quite literally requires one’s blood, sweat and tears, evident by the random bandages across a tow- his person. Saahil ruminates that he’s cursed, being the only one in the workshop to be plagued by accidents and slip ups. Most people at the workshop are frequently covered from head to toe with grease, sand and dirt, the trademark of real mechanics. 

The car is classified as an open wheel vehicle and is a formula student vehicle, which adheres to SAE regulations. This sort of car doesn’t require a fender or bodywork—it’s a single seater rear wheel drive that includes a differential. What distinguishes it from a civilian car is the fact that its metrics are performance oriented—only what’s necessary is included. The impact attenuator can absorb up to 20,000N of force, meeting safety standards. The chassis has been analyzed and scrutinized to ensure the safety of the driver.

The biggest challenge to overcome was designing the wheel knuckle, which was accompanied by nearly nine iterations and a hefty bill of fifteen thousand rupees. 

While any enthusiast  is encouraged to join the club, the heart of its operations is mechanical engineering. It’s advised that amateurs put in the time and work required to learn the concepts through courses or certifications in order to assist the team during the design and development. 

With the total manufacturing cost of the car being approximately 3 lakhs, one of its main selling points is how cost effective it is, a factor that sponsors are thoroughly impressed by, along with the integration of pneumatic paddle shifters. The team is proudly supported by DBiz.ai as the title sponsor, along with Envertiz, M&G Holidays, Club Highlander, Black and White Ventures, and Motul as the performance partner. Club 46 has generously provided the helmet to be used for the race. SculptX also contributed significantly by assisting with the 3D design of the wheel knuckle.

Having grown through past challenges, the team now stands proud of how far they’ve come. “I want our juniors to learn from this and one day surpass us,” says Saahil, whose time with his seniors at Supra 2024 gave him the confidence to lead a 30-member team. With the competition just days away, they’re working around the clock to complete the car and prepare it for dispatch. At this critical moment, what they need most is the continued support and encouragement of the student body and institution, cheering them on from the stands. Backed by the patronage and goodwill of the Principal, Fr Dr Jaison Paul Mullerickal, the team can overcome any hurdle on their way.

This isn’t just about a racecar. It’s about the time, effort, and determination that went into building it.

Buckle up folks—Overdrive Racing is just getting started. Stay tuned for Formula Bharat 2026.