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Mahidur Rahman takes part in his first live race, looking to start a successful future in motorsport
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to fly down the road at 136 miles per hour? Mahidur Rahman, a 23-year-old Fordham College in Lincoln Center, can tell you. In fact, he’s already won a game. The Fordham student recently won his first unofficial Formula 3 (F3) race in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Rahman became interested in racing a year ago through a friend who is a kart racer, and he trained for F3 races using computer simulators. These simulators are designed to mimic aspects of racing by including real steering wheels and pedals. However, they failed to mimic certain physical aspects of racing.
Rahman competed in his first amateur race on March 14, 2023 at Abu Dhabi’s sunny, 95-degree Fahrenheit Yas Marina circuit after spending more than six months practicing for the race road.It’s an unofficial F3 race, and it’s where amateur racers get their chance Prove their skills and attract sponsors.
Once drivers are officially certified, they can participate International Automobile Federation (FIA) sponsors formula car races. The Yas Marina Circuit is approximately 1.36 miles long, with F3 drivers completing 15 laps per race. In comparison, a Formula 1 driver needs to do 50-70 laps to reach the required 190 miles.
“The aerodynamics of the car — It’s like a jet plane upside down.It’s an amazing feeling because it feels like your car is built on the ground and your body is flying in the air. — Exciting. “ Mahidur Rahman, FCLC ’23
“When I actually raced, I was really taken aback because racing in a simulator is so different than competing in real life,” Rahman said. “You’re going to be facing gravity that’s almost eight times your own body weight.”
The gravity and extreme heat of live racing make the entire event a sweaty and physically challenging one.Impact is no joke — F1 driver Lose about 6 to 8 pounds of water weight after each game.
After months of training on home simulators, Rahman signed up for amateur F3 racing. He has a car and an experienced team who are there to guide him throughout the event and help him in difficult times, such as qualifying.
The first test for the aspiring racing driver is to pass the qualifiers, which will determine his starting position in the final.Not only is this Rahman’s first F3 race — This is his first time driving a Formula car. Rahman thought he had just gotten comfortable in the car when things started to go wrong.
“I was just getting a feel for the car itself and trying to set a lap time, but halfway through, my car completely stalled and I was spinning around the track,” Rahman said. “All I could smell was heat and the car’s battery had completely failed.”
Fortunately, no one was injured, but a car breakdown meant that Rahman would start 10th on race day – last from the bottom. In the end Rahman did not complete the qualifier and had to be pulled back by the safety car. Still, he said he remains confident in the game itself.
In an F3 race, these are the first few laps when the drivers are closest to each other and where most of the rivalry takes place between rivals. As the cars in front of Rahman battled each other in tight bends and drove riskily, he followed closely while letting the tires warm up. Cold tires have less traction on asphalt, making it more difficult to control the vehicle at faster speeds.
After the tires warmed up, Rahman hit the ground running. Navigating around the track deftly, he was able to slide over other drivers and pass them. Slipstreaming is when a rider gains an aerodynamic advantage by positioning himself directly behind his opponent. The drivers in front experience the drag of the wind, slowing them down. With the help of his team and the use of his strategic game plan, Rahman was able to move into first position on lap 11 and hold on for the rest of the race.
Apart from his racing prowess, Rahman also owed his victory to the team behind him. As he races, they tell him if he needs to slow down or speed up based on the charts they have available. These graphs monitor thermal temperatures, braking points and the car’s entry speed into corners.
Despite qualifying and a sweltering challenge, Rahman won his first race. “Honestly, the actual game day feels a lot easier and less hectic,” he said.
In the future, Rahman hopes to obtain a certificate in the racing school so that he can participate in the competition organized by the FIA ​​​​and hopes to find sponsors and his own team. For now though, he plans to practice as much as possible on the simulator and focus on setting better lap times.
Before he gets back on the track, he plans to remember his favorite part of racing: “The aerodynamics of the car.” — It’s like a jet plane upside down.It’s an amazing feeling because it feels like your car is built on the ground and your body is flying in the air. — Exciting. “
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