Race Car Driver & Engineer Program

In partnership with Dallara AK Esports

LOCATION

Indianapolis

AGES

14-18

Duration

1 week

Partner

Dallara AK Esports

Language

English

Formula

Residential

Program Overview

Race Car Driver & Engineer Program

This race car driver and race engineer program in Indianapolis runs for one week during US spring break and is designed for students aged 14 to 18. Designed for students passionate about motorsport, engineering and sim racing. Hosted at Dallara AK Esports’ Indianapolis facilities during US spring break, this one-week program puts students inside the loop real race engineers live in: make performance decisions first in the simulator, then validate them against the real car, the factory and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

It complements our Engineering & Technologies in Motorsport program at Dallara in Italy: together, a two-campus Dallara Pathway from building a race car to engineering its performance. In Indianapolis the Dallara Experience Hub, the Dallara IndyCar Factory and the Speedway sit within reach of one another: the simulator and the real car it models quite literally share an address.

Program Highlights

Drive and engineer the same car: every participant does both roles

Telemetry in MoTeC i2, setup work and race strategy on the pit wall

A full race weekend: FP1 to FP4, qualifying and race, with an individual Performance Report

Why This Matters

Indianapolis is the heart of American motorsport.

Students train at Dallara AK Esports, the joint venture that already lives at the intersection of competitive sim racing and real chassis engineering, gaining hands-on access to professional simulators, the IR-18 car and the legendary Speedway itself. Across one intensive week they engineer a measurable performance gain over a baseline and prove it is real through data.

What’s Included

All lessons & engineering labs (30 hours)
Access to professional simulators
Accommodation in Indianapolis
3 meals/day (full board)
Excursions
Certificate of completion
24/7 staff supervision
Liability & Accident Insurance

🏠 Residential accommodation

Accommodation Type

Students stay at the 4★ Courtyard by Marriott Indianapolis West-Speedway, in shared rooms with private bathrooms, with common study areas and social spaces, 24/7 staff support and a daily shuttle to and from classes.

What’s Included in Residential

En-suite or shared rooms (typically double or twin)
All meals - breakfast, lunch and dinner
House parents present on-site every night
24/7 Sportech Academy support staff on call
Evening and weekend supervised social programme
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Laundry facilities (where available)
Airport transfer coordination available

Accommodation Photos

Photos are illustrative. Actual residence confirmed after booking.

Please note: The specific residence is confirmed after booking and varies by program location and intake date. Dietary requirements (vegetarian, vegan, halal, allergies, etc.) are always accommodated - please indicate these during the booking process.

Typical Weekly Schedule

Driving Technique & Vehicle Dynamics

Line, braking, minimum speed and consistency, then vehicle dynamics, aerodynamics and setup: change one thing, drive it back to back and read the result.

Telemetry, Data & Race Strategy

Telemetry in MoTeC format analysed in MoTeC i2: lap overlays, corner and sector comparison, driver versus driver. Decide what to run next and defend it in the debrief.

Race Weekend & Pit Wall

Understanding the levels of fidelity from a gaming simulator to a professional driver-in-the-loop simulator to the track, then validating the work against reality.

Special Excursions

Dallara US factory and Experience Hub, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and a visit inside an IndyCar team headquarters with a meet and greet with an IndyCar driver.

Final Project

The program culminates in a virtual race weekend: teams apply their setup, strategy and telemetry work, then validate the result against the real IR-18 chassis, Dallara’s own sim-to-reality correlation process and published Speedway lap data.

A Day in the Life

Program Highlight Video

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Race Car Driver & Engineer Program program?

A one-week residential program in Indianapolis for students aged 14 to 18, hosted at Dallara AK Esports during US spring break, on simulation, telemetry and race engineering.

What do students learn and create?

Vehicle dynamics, aerodynamics and setup, telemetry, data and race strategy, and sim-to-reality correlation. Students work in engineering teams to enhance race car performance and prove the gain through data, closing with a virtual race weekend.

Does my child need previous engineering studies to join?

No. Everything is taught from the ground up, entirely in English. What matters most is genuine interest in motorsport, engineering and sim racing.

Where is the program based?

In Indianapolis, at the Dallara AK Esports facilities, with visits to the Dallara US Factory & Experience Hub and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Will this program help with university applications?

Yes. It gives students a clearer understanding of how race engineering works and produces real project work that goes well beyond simple enthusiasm.

How are students supervised?

House parents stay on-site every night and Sportech Academy staff are on call 24/7. Residences are secure and vetted, chosen for safety and proximity to the program venue.

Can dietary requirements be accommodated?

Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, halal and allergy-related diets are all catered for. Note any requirements during booking and the team arranges them.

What is the refund and cancellation policy?

Cancellations follow the terms in the enrolment agreement. Contact the admissions team for the current deadlines and conditions before booking.

Dates & Prices