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2018-2019 TEAM
Head of Silverback Engineering
Kunal Gupta
Head of Engineering
My name is Kunal Gupta and I am the Team Leader and Head of Engineering for Silverback Engineering 2018-19. As Team Leader, I look after the logistics and development of the team and as Head of Engineering, I oversee and direct the innovations taking shape in the Engineering department.
I joined the team during 2017-18 session as an engineer for the electronics and programming of the car (following my general lines of interest at the time), and immediately respected the atmosphere and motivation the team had for building an eco-friendly future. Since then I have realized my underlying passion for engineering as a field, and drive for innovation as a hobby, and will continue to prize these as the foundational characteristics of a successful engineering team for this glorious year to come.
Rachelle Prins
Head of PR
I am Rachelle Prins and this will be my second year in the Silverback Engineering Team. This year, I am the Main driver and Head of Public Relations.
I was asked to join the Silverback Engineering team due to my height and weight being appropriate for a driver. I immediately said yes because I find it incredible that students take part in such a big event and that they are able to compete against universities. Also, I enjoyed the team aspect of it all; the fact that you work collaboratively throughout the year to raise awareness, get sponsorships, organise events, and create a fuel-efficient, eco-friendly car. That is why I joined this team.
The Rest of the Team
Engineer
Patrick Lacorum
Hi! My name is Patrick Lacorum and I am an engineer for the Silverbacks Engineering Team. As an engineer for the team, my main role is to tune and to work on the engine and its surrounding components such as the free rolling wheel. Since I was a member of the team last year, I provide support to new teammates as well as share experiences and bring them up to date with engineering knowledge - specifically with the EFI system. I joined the team this year because I believed that my experience in the team last year would benefit my role as an engineer - allowing me to work through past obstacles and teach what I have learned the past year to new teammates. ​
Engineer
Julie Hermanns
My name is Julie and I am an engineer in the Silverbacks Engineering Team specialised in the wheels, brakes and steering. I decided to join the team last year because I strongly admired the Shell Eco-Marathon and it’s goal to encourage fuel efficiency. I have also always really enjoyed science and thought it would be a great experience to put what I learned at school into practice.
Public Relations
Kavishya Kulatunga
Hi, I am Kavishya Kulatunga, I am in year 12 and I am in public relations. I manage the social media of the Silverbacks Engineering, take pictures of the team and make videos for the youtube channel. I have been in the team for a year. I joined the team because I was fascinated by the fact that a group of students was able to build a car that could be raced and driven by a student, and I wanted to document and promote the team as much as possible.
Engineer
Lucio Vecchia
My name is Lucio Vecchia and I am part of ISH Silverback Engineering. My role in this team is to substitute the current engine with a smaller one in order to improve the efficiency of our car. Moreover, I need to make sure the new engine is clean, functional and safe to use as well as capable of moving the car in order to compete in the Shell Eco-Marathon. I joined this team because this is an opportunity of a lifetime, not every school provides this kind of opportunities and due to this I am grateful to be in this team. This is very educative and fun to do which I really like.
Engineer
Sofia Sanchez
My name is Sofia Sanchez and I am currently 15 years old. I am half Spanish and half Finnish. I joined Silverbacks Engineering because I thought that it would be a great opportunity to learn hands-on about engines, electronics, mechanical systems, and just how to build things from (almost) scratch. I myself am an engineer and am currently working on the ‘new’ engine, which we want to put inside the car. ​
Public Relations
Mehrbanoo Abedini​
My name is Mehrbanoo Abedini and I’m 14 years old. I’m in year 10, and I am a part of the PR Team. I joined the team because I had seen them around school since year 7, and I always thought it was quite cool. So now that I’m finally eligible, I decided I should join.
Engineer
Sahar Marossi
My name is Sahar, and this is my first year in Silverback Engineering. I am working on the steering/wheels of the car. I joined the team because I enjoy creating and designing things, and want to learn more about engineering in general, as I'm considering electrical/computer/mechanical engineering as a future career choice.
Engineer
Justin Jaeger
I am Justin, a year 11 student. I like to play piano and I like learning maths and physics. In the Silverback Engineering team, I am one of the engineers. That means that I am currently working on improving the car. The reason I joined the team is because of my passion for physics & engineering. Those are the most interesting sciences in my opinion.
Public Relations / Reserve Driver
Rahul Van Der Zanden
I am Rahul Van Der Zanden and I am the second driver and also a member of the PR group. I decided to join the team because I think that it is a good opportunity for me to learn new skills such as working in a team and working on a long-term project. Also it seems extremely interesting and ! am very excited for the rest of this project.
The Rest of the Team
