The Ateneo Eco Shell Racing team on Friday, January 26, 2017 unveiled the first official entry of the Ateneo in the upcoming Shell Eco Marathon Asia – the ATNO 1.
The Shell Eco Marathon is an international race where schools from all around the world create their own cars and compete not for speed, but for energy efficiency. A test run will be held at the Clark International Speedway on February 3 to 5, then the race itself will be at the Changi Exhibition Center in Singapore on March 16 to 19.
“We want to share with you, the Ateneo community, what we have been working on for so many months before we go off and compete,” said AtenEco Team Leader Ramona Datu.
“The process has been very difficult as we are mostly computer and electric engineers. We had to learn everything from the start… but we are here and we’re almost done. I can say that we are quite proud of what we have accomplished so far,” she added.
Deputy Team Leader Onur Salih also recounted how they first thought of the idea to build the energy efficient vehicle. “It was an initiative from our department to join the Shell Eco Marathon to not just give us exposure but also to give us experience on making a car,” he said.
“It started in a small room in Faura with 10 people… and as the months went by it got bigger and bigger. We now have around 100 plus members in the team who are not just Engineering [majors],” said Salih.
The eight of them who will be competing are Ramona Datu, Onur Salih, Anton Rabe, JM Reguyal, Louie Mojica, Gab Aquino, Kevin Vicerra, and Kyle Siongco who will be driving the car.
University President Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ was there in support of the team. “The standard out there is quite high… We have a long way to go but don’t lose heart, okay? You are just beginning. Don’t be fazed, do not be frightened by the competition,” he said.
He also reminded everyone about the significance of the event.
“I hope you understand why we’re doing this. It’s a fun thing but it’s also a deep thing. I hope that by doing this, we begin to think about new technologies, clean technologies,” he added.
