Formula E Brings More than Racing to Homestead

Formula E not only brings unique racing, but also education and experience opportunities to young people in our area. The Formula E Better Futures Fund also donated 25,000 Euros ($28,497.66 USD) to local charity Sprout Up.

The funds support Sprout Up’s efforts in Florida City and Homestead as part of its “Greener Together” Community Garden initiative, which promotes environmental and food education while enhancing food security through community engagement. Activities will include workshops, food distribution, and garden infrastructure.

As part of its Electrathon Speedway Series efforts, Florida Power and Light sponsored a race weekend for teams across Florida. Electrathon is a national program that builds and races electric vehicles while supporting STEM at the high school level. FPL program lead Isabella Burckhardt told us that FPL has provided 25 High Schools (five in Miami Dade) with build kits for the program. She also drove the pace car for the start of both Friday and Saturday’s 40-minute heat races.

Teams are scored by how many laps they can complete on the Formula E course in the allotted time. Burckhardt concluded our discussion, “What’s really exciting about most of the Miami Dade teams is that this is the second year they have participated. South Dade Senior High being an example. Florida Power and Light has loved to see them grow from year to year. We’ve watched the team gain more members, gain more traction, and find outside sponsorship. So watching them grow, mature, and embrace Electrathon has been inspiring.”

South Dade Senior High is one of the 25 FPL-supported schools and brought its team and car to the event. Shawn Waring, the school’s Engineering and Robotics teacher and team sponsor, told us, “FPL welded up a frame and gave us instructions that I took back to my classroom. Then, the kids took ownership. They cut the sheet metal, put all the rivets in, wired up the electronics, and put the motor in.”

He continued, “This program is an amazing opportunity for the kids to network and meet engineers involved in racing and learn things they can’t in the classroom.”

South Dade drivers Mia Lopez and Toby Pits were also very involved in the construction and programming of the vehicle. Mia primarily did sheet metal work, while Toby concentrated on the motor and controller. With Mia in the car on Friday, the team ran very well. Their hopes for a podium finish were dashed when the chain drive failed during Toby’s stint. It was still a great weekend with opportunities to race and learn.

Learning was also on tap for Music program students from Miami Lighthouse for the Blind. Thirty students and teachers visited Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday for a multisensory experience. They got to meet and interact with teams and their cars.

A highlight of the event was getting autographs from Formula E drivers. Formula E‘s FIA Girls on Track invited around 100 female middle and high school students from the South Florida area to participate in their program at the Miami E-Prix.

Designed to introduce a wide range of career opportunities in motorsports, participants got to meet and interact with Formula E staff and race teams. Workshops and visits ranged from engineering, mechanics, and driving to media relations. The Formula E weekend not only provided excitement to race fans but enriched the community as well.