Pikes Peak Aerodynamic Analysis

As part of a four-person engineering team, I’m contributing to the aerodynamic development of a conceptual race car designed for the demanding conditions of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Our objective is to engineer an aero package capable of maintaining stability and performance in thin-air, high-altitude environments. Since the start of the semester, my work has centered on understanding competition regulations and translating them into design decisions that meet both performance goals and technical constraints.

My primary focus is on the front end aerodynamic system, where I help design components in SolidWorks and troubleshoot their integration with the rest of the vehicle. This includes refining geometry, assessing airflow behavior, and preparing models for future CFD testing in Star-CCM+. Much of my current effort is in the troubleshooting phase, resolving issues thousands of errors with design, like overlap, free edges and more. This hands on refinement is strengthening my technical understanding of how small design changes affect the entire aerodynamic system.

Across the project, I collaborate closely with my teammates to align aero decisions with mechanical packaging, structural constraints, and the overall design strategy. Working through iterative problem-solving as a team has pushed me to communicate clearly, balance trade-offs, and contribute engineering inputs that support the full vehicle development process. This experience is sharpening both my technical skillset and my ability to work within a coordinated motorsport engineering environment, preparing me for deeper involvement in race-focused design roles.