In the mythology the Amazon They were a tribe of warrior women, at the Tec de Monterrey Laguna campus, a team of 9 engineering students who designed a vehicle without a motor to win second place in the competition Gravity Race Car (GRC) on a hill in Arteaga, Coahuila.
The students faced different obstacles outside and inside the track. Since construction, some parts were not easy to obtain; In the race, a crash almost left them out.
However, the team determinationcommented one of the members, it was the key to getting ahead and getting a runner-up in the Novice category.
“You have to take the initiative and you have to stand firm […] It’s already a very competitive (environment) (and) the fact being a woman adds more difficulty”said Sofía Gallegos, pilot of the Amazonas team in GRC.
“The environment is very competitive and being a woman adds more difficulty.”
An engineering challenge faced by women
In Gravity Race Cars 2024, 2 teams from Tec de Monterrey participated in Torreón, of which 1 was made up only of women.
The Amazons, as they decided to name themselves for the competition, faced the challenge of build a vehicle capable of traveling the hills of Mesa de las Tablasin Arteaga, Coahuila without engine.
The car had to comply with a regulation made up of technical specifications and safety tests:
- Weight Limit
- turning diameter
- Braking capacity
- 5 point belt
To make it a reality, the engineering students realized that some parts were not easy to get and even, they claim, some providers tried to charge them more due to gender stereotypes.
“(Being a woman) you must have a solid character to say: ‘I’m going to do this, I can do this’, because if you don’t have it, they won’t let you weld, cut, polish or anything.”shared Sofía Gallegos.
Once the vehicle is built, practice time was limitedthey pointed out.
Thus, some mechanical aspects were tested up to the competition.
“Being a woman, you have to have a strong character and say ‘I can do this’.”
An engineering competition with Tec participation
Las Amazonas, from the Tec de Monterrey Laguna campus, arrived at Gravity Race Cars 2024 in Arteaga with little experience on board the non-motorized vehicle.
“Only I had gotten into the car twice before the competition (but) definitely since I got on that bandwagon, I expected first place”said Sofia Gallegos.
The women’s team had the best times before reaching the final; however, an accident took first place from them.
They reported that a rival team gave a tight curve and as a consequence they suffered an impact with the slope, which led them to close in second position.
The pilot, Sofía, stated that it was the mentality which allowed him to finish this experience in GRC on behalf of the Amazons.
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