A Christmas special: talking to Pat Symonds of Cadillac F1
About this episode
Pat Symonds, the technical consultant for Cadillac's new Formula One team, shares insights from his extensive career in motorsport, including his time with legendary drivers like Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso. The conversation dives into the challenges of establishing an American F1 team, the innovative technologies being developed, and the importance of fan engagement. Symonds also discusses the evolution of F1 regulations and the future of sustainable fuels in racing. With a mix of nostalgia and forward-thinking, this episode highlights the exciting journey ahead for Cadillac in the world of Formula One.
In this week's episode of My Week In Cars, Steve Cropley chats to Pat Symonds, the executive engineering consultant at the new Cadillac F1 team. Symonds, a veteran motorsports engineer who has been involved with seven F1 world championship titles, talks to Cropley about racing cars past, present and future, and road cars, too. It's a long one, so we hope you enjoy it during a bit of down time.
We'll be back next week with another festive special, talking to the Duke of Richmond about all things Goodwood.
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Anderson EV
"Anderson, the... Anderson-EV.com, and there is still time if you contact them before December 31st to go in 5,000 free miles with intelligent octopus. Go when you buy an Anderson charger."
Anderson EV makes chargers for electric cars. They give you free miles and help set up the charger if you buy one.
Anderson EV is a company that designs and sells electric vehicle charging stations, offering features like free mileage promotions and concierge support.
Formula One
"...Pat Simmons, who is the technical consultant at the new Cadillac Formula One team."
Formula One is the top level of car racing, with very fast cars that race on tracks around the world.
Formula One (F1) is the highest class of single-seat, open-wheel racing sanctioned by the FIA, featuring cutting-edge technology and global competition.
hybrid power unit
"Changing the... Also changed the power unit so that there's more electric and less petrol."
A hybrid power unit mixes a regular gasoline engine with electric motors to make the car faster and use less fuel.
A hybrid power unit combines an internal combustion engine with electric motors to improve efficiency and performance, common in modern racing.
Cadillac
"and nipped over to Cadillac to apply his own rules to a new Formula One car"
Cadillac is a famous American car brand that makes fancy cars and is now getting involved in racing.
Cadillac is a luxury automobile brand owned by General Motors, known for high-end cars and now exploring motorsport participation.
Silverstone base
"[350.0s] There's a Silverstone base at the moment, but eventually they're going to have this huge facility in Indianapolis..."
Silverstone is a famous race track in England where big car races like the Formula 1 British Grand Prix are held.
Silverstone is a world‑famous motor racing circuit in the UK, known for hosting the British Grand Prix and many other high‑profile events.
Indianapolis
"[356.0s] which is going to invite people in... [358.0s] So when you go on your holiday to America, you can, you know..."
Indianapolis is a city in the U.S. famous for its big car race, the Indy 500.
Indianapolis is a city in Indiana, USA, best known for the Indianapolis 500, one of the most prestigious auto races worldwide.
Formula 1
"[362.0s] you can go and see the Cadillac F1 works."
Formula 1 is the top level of car racing, with very fast cars and teams from all over the world.
Formula 1 (F1) is the highest class of single‑seat, open‑wheel racing sanctioned by the FIA, featuring cutting‑edge technology and global competition.
motorsport
"[573.0s] It was something that just came through, through my father, [576.0s] through his sort of love of cars and motorsport."
Motorsport is racing with cars or motorcycles, like the races you see on TV where drivers compete for speed and skill.
Motorsport refers to competitive motor vehicle racing, encompassing various disciplines such as touring cars, rallying, and open-wheel series.
motor racing
"[583.0s] to being a 13-year-old kid who already loved motor racing"
Motor racing is when people drive cars or bikes as fast as they can in a race, trying to finish first.
Motor racing is a subset of motorsport focused on high-speed competition between drivers in motorized vehicles.
Snetterton Circuit
"[588.0s] used to go to Snettaton because we lived in Norfolk."
Snetterton is a race track in England where drivers practice and compete in car races.
Snetterton Circuit is a motor racing track located in Norfolk, England, known for hosting various national and international events.
Ford GT40
"[612.0s] The support races had things like GT40s, which was, you know, that was my bedroom wall car at that age."
The GT40 is a famous racing car made by Ford in the 1960s. It was very fast and won many big races, especially at Le Mans.
The Ford GT40 is a legendary 1960s sports car that dominated the 24 Hours of Le Mans, known for its powerful V8 engine and lightweight chassis.
automotive engineering
"And now I could do automotive engineering. So I did that, specializing in vehicle dynamics."
Automotive engineering is the field that creates cars—designing how they work, how fast they go, and how safe they are.
Automotive engineering encompasses the design, development, and testing of vehicles, focusing on aspects like performance, safety, and efficiency.
vehicle dynamics
"So I did that, specializing in vehicle dynamics. And while I was there,"
Vehicle dynamics is about how a car moves and reacts when you drive it—how it turns, stops, or goes fast. Engineers study this to make cars safer and more fun.
Vehicle dynamics is the study of how a car behaves under various forces, including acceleration, braking, and cornering. It’s crucial for designing cars that handle well.
Royale
"I noticed I went up on the board to join a company called Royale, working with a guy called Roy Byrne"
Royale was a company that built and raced cars in competitions like Formula 2. They were known for their work in the 1970s.
Royale was a British racing team and car constructor that competed in various single-seater series, including Formula 2, during the 1970s.
Formula 2 car
"to design actually a Formula 2 car. So I thought, well, why not?"
Formula 2 cars are racing vehicles that compete in a series just below the top-level Formula 1. They’re fast, lightweight, and follow strict rules to keep competition fair.
Formula 2 is a single-seater, open-wheel racing series that serves as a feeder to Formula 1. Cars are highly specialized, lightweight, and built to strict technical regulations.
Ford Transit
"And it really looked like they were going to move Ford UK over on to doing things like the Transit and D Series truck"
The Transit is a big van made by Ford that people use to carry stuff or passengers.
The Ford Transit is a popular commercial van produced by the American automaker Ford, widely used for cargo and passenger transport.
component engineering
"And also there was this sort of move towards component engineering, where you became a real specialist"
Component engineering means focusing on making individual parts of a car, like brakes or engines, instead of building whole cars.
Component engineering refers to the specialization in designing and producing specific parts or modules for vehicles, rather than building entire cars.
Hawke
"And I ended up working for a company called Hawke."
Hawke is a business that makes and races special cars for competitions.
Hawke is a company that builds and races high-performance cars, often participating in events like hill climbs or track days.
Dunlop
"I got on to Dunlop, who supplied the tires."
Dunlop makes car tires that help cars grip the road. They are used by many drivers and racing teams.
Dunlop is a well-known manufacturer of tires and other automotive components, often supplying performance and racing tires.
tire data
"I said, I want some tire data."
Tire data is information that tells you how a tire behaves—how much it grips the road, how quickly it wears out, and what pressure it needs.
Tire data refers to detailed measurements and performance characteristics of tires, such as grip levels, wear rates, and pressure curves.
weight distribution
"We weight distribution, et cetera, et cetera. So, designed the car, modified the car."
Weight distribution means how a car’s weight is spread between the front and back. A good balance helps the car handle better.
Weight distribution is the balance of a vehicle’s mass across its front and rear axles, affecting handling, traction, and stability.
engine forward
"We produced the DL-17, which we shifted the engine forward"
Putting an engine closer to the front of a car shifts more weight forward, which can help the front wheels grip better and improve steering.
Moving an engine forward in a vehicle changes the weight distribution, often improving traction and handling characteristics.
Formula Ford
"[984.0s] But there were a lot of Formula Ford manufacturers [987.0s] in those days, weren't there?"
Formula Ford is a type of car racing where all drivers use very similar cars. It’s like a beginner’s league for racers, helping them learn how to drive fast and compete fairly.
Formula Ford is a single-make, open-wheel racing series that has been used as an entry-level platform for drivers to develop skills before moving up to higher categories like Formula 3 or IndyCar. Cars are built to strict specifications, ensuring close competition and emphasizing driver talent.
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