TCT Bright Minds at Renault F1

There are some definite perks to working in the 'communications' industry, specifically the Three J's — jaunts, jollies and junkets.

Last week I was able to take a day out of the office and head down to the Renault F1 factory in Enstone as part of the TCT Bright Minds scheme. The trip was legitimately arranged by Graham Tromans for the winners of the BM 2009 competition, and I was legitimately there to cover the event and represent the magazine. It didn't stop it being a cracking jolly very informative day out.

Apart from being one of the cleanest manufacturing facilities I have ever seen, Renault F1's UK base also had the impression of being one of the most relaxed. Now, I know that F1 is the pinnacle of engineering in a lot of ways, and that as such the timescales and expectations must pile the stress on to every individual in the place at times, but you just wouldn't know it. Busy, yes. Manic, absolutely not.

Pat Warner, ADM Manager at Renault F1 was kind enough to show the group around as much of the facility as possible — though with the 2010 developments ongoing (see the addition of an 'F-Duct' at the Spa F1 in Belgium last Sunday) and the 2011 car already in the pipeline there must be plenty of 'sensitive' information lurking behind closed doors.

What we did get to see however was deployment of cutting-edge technology in the greatest race series in the world. From composites to additive manufacturing and computer simulation it seemed that the sum of all human engineering knowledge had been brought together with the sole aim of making a very fast car. Put like that, you can see why the doubters and detractors feel they have a point. I mean, F1 is fun (this season has been a belter) but it's not really 'making a difference'. Is it?

In my recent AM and the Environment article in the magazine, I noted that the industries driving the development of 'sustainable' solutions are those that are currently (in perception or reality) the environmental bad boys — energy production, aerospace, automotive and the like. These high-carbon activities have the greatest imperative to reduce their environmental impact, as well as the greatest budgets to dedicate to the cause.

The 'pure' engineering that happens in places like Renault F1 is vital to not only to the continuing development of technology, but also for solving some of the greatest challenges mankind faces now, and will face in the future. It's a shame that most people don't get really excited about environmental issues, it really is. Everything would be so much easier if humans were different like that. But we're not, and the things we get excited about (speed, racing, flying, cool stuff) tend to come at a cost. By turning these challenges on their head we can use our need to compete, our need to push the boundaries and experiment to our advantage.

Processes and innovations from F1 have filtered out to mass automotive markets and aerospace where they are now having a positive impact on 'serious' challenges. It is the white heat of competition that always has, and always will, drive us to develop quickest — peace and love are all very good, but they're no good if you're looking for technological progress.

Finally, congratulations to all at the Renault F1 Team on their podium finish in Belgium.

James Woodcock