Tokai University Le Mans Project

02 The Expertise of Each Team Enables Collective Know-how

Students working on the Le Mans Project are divided into teams and assigned specific responsibilities. This page introduces each team and what roles they are responsible for.


	With a newly developed engine being used in the Tokai University Le Mans car, this team is responsible for designing important elements such as engine lubrication and cooling systems and the fuel line.


	This team designed the ideal chassis for the project and purchased the closest possible reproduction from a French manufacturer. To ready the chassis for race conditions, they scrutinized every measurement and made improvements as necessary.


	The body team creates the individual parts necessary for constructing the car. They are also in charge of such down-to-earth tasks as sanding the edges of the monocoque frame and the cowl that they purchased.


	This distinctive team is characteristic of Tokai University’s Le Mans Project. Members are responsible for making designs based on human ergonomics to maximize driver potential. For example, they decided on the layout for all switches.


	This team gathers and analyzes data from test drives. They are also responsible for tasks such as designing the wiring of the electrical system.


	Comprised of one third- or fourth-year student from each team, members assemble the car by putting together the various parts designed, built or purchased by other teams. They are responsible for tightening each and every bolt.

Finally, the Management Team has the role of overseeing the entire project. Each school year, two or three students have the important responsibility of organizing the project through activities such as maintaining an overall schedule and sharing information between teams. Below is an introduction of this year’s two Management Team members.


Our job is to oversee the entire project. We help exchange information between students and professors, share data with all students, track equipment, manage the schedule and perform many other tasks to ensure a smooth work and research environment. We have to grasp what each team is doing and have a broad and deep understanding of the project, not a broad and shallow understanding. That’s the Management Team’s tradition. We’re working with a lot of unique personalities in the research lab, and we have the important job of keeping our own spirits up while boosting the morale of other students. We also gather information from every team, so our knowledge keeps getting deeper every day. It’s a really interesting role. (Mito is currently the chief of the Assembly Team.)		I am originally from Suzuka City in Mie Prefecture (home of the Suzuka International Racing Course), so I have been interested in auto racing from a very young age. I am truly happy to be a member of this team that will send a car to compete in Le Mans. The Management Team is in charge of many tasks, including ordering equipment for each team. Since we are responsible for contacting companies directly, it is a great opportunity to learn business communication skills by talking on the phone and writing e-mails. There are about 40 students involved in this project, and each one has a unique personality. Many are very outgoing, but there are others who are a bit more shy and don’t voice their opinions as easily. A big part of our job is to create an environment in which everybody is equally comfortable expressing themselves in front of others.


01.Our Dream to Build a Le··	02.The Expertise of Each··	03.Nearing Completion:··

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