As its eighth year running at Lime Rock Park, the CT Electrathon, an endurance challenge of novice, classic, and composite electric vehicles, put students education to practical use.  On Friday, 3 October, regional high school students invaded Lime Rock Park as they tested their knowledge and skill in all aspects of engineering and design.

The program runs at Lime Rock Park in both Spring and Fall.  Friday’s event is a chance for teams to assess their status, a prelude to the final spring race in 2009 that will also be held at Lime Rock Park.

Regional high school students participate at all levels – from first-time learners to experienced year-round teams – to test their knowledge and skill of engineering and design.  Every year the number of participating teams increase and preliminary registration shows it has quadrupled in size since its first event in 2001.

What is the Electrathon Challenge?  It’s a one-hour energy efficiency competition where students design and construct a one-person vehicle designed to cover as many laps as possible on a closed track.  The object is to make students and the general public aware of the potential of electric vehicles and familiarize them with their operation.  The program uses the basic rules set forth in the Electrathon America Hand Book.  Many of the teams involved spend the entire school year preparing, constructing and designing their vehicle for these events either as an after-school activity or an in-class learning experience.

Lime Rock Park is proud to have the CT Electhrathon at the track.  It provides another avenue for the younger generation to understand the motorsport industry.  And with the alternative fuel initiatives that professionals, like the American Le Mans Series, are conducting, the CT Electrathon remains relevant and significant.

For more information on the CT Electrathon, visit www.ctelectrathon.org.