Redback Racing: The student-led team that feels like a UNSW society

A wealth of experience and knowledge to be gained

Redback Racing is one of the best places for students to apply everything they've learned in an actual working team environment, all while picking up new skills from fellow team members.

Chairwoman of Redback Racing's Women's Working Group (WWG) Thao 'Peli' Nghiem says being part of the team "simulates a lot more of what working as an engineer in real life will be because no one's there telling you what to do" and how team members "need to figure it out and learn for [themselves]."

Everyone in the team has a part to contribute, and the end product - a functioning race car - is the greatest result of all. That feeling is perhaps best summed up by Redback Racing Team Leader Chelsea Tran: 

"There's nothing better than saying how you conceptualised something from scratch and brought it all the way to manufacturing, and then tested it and validated your design. You don't learn that in the classroom."

When speaking to industry people, talking about the car you helped build is incredibly compelling and showcases that you've got well-honed skills that are transferable to the workplace. Plus, it looks great on your LinkedIn profile.

A very rewarding and motivating experience

Redback Racing is a high-achieving, student-led team that cares more about your development and contributions. The big question is what kind of people would thrive in this environment?

This can be summed up in one sentence:

"You need to be a very self-motivated, self-starter type."

Beyond being very self-motivated, there are several other traits that will hold those interested in joining Redback Racing in great stead. Chelsea says that it's important to not only be self-driven, but a "strong sense of community and responsibility" to the team is just as important as everyone relies on everyone else for so much. "There are heaps of challenges we go through, so being able to persevere in the times where you have all these deadlines coming up and all this pressure is really important for us," explains the Redback Team Leader.

For Redback Racing driver and suspension team member Rishabh Banerjee, people who show "a willingness to learn, curiosity, and just trying to push themselves" will find their place on the team.

Peli notes that communication skills and being able to interact with everyone are important, saying how "underrated" soft skills are. "In terms of technical skills, they can always be taught. But it's a lot harder to teach someone to communicate well and be motivated within the team to interact with everyone," says the WWG Chairperson.

Don't think the team is just all work and no play. As seriously as Redback Racing takes their work, there's an underlying sense of community that elevates everyone. With the team operating on the same self-driven wavelength, members often feel a close familial bond with each other. For Autonomous Vehicle team member Eric Kang, he really found his place at UNSW upon joining the team.

"I am from Korea, I don't have any family here, and I live alone," says Eric. "I met so many friends [through Redback] and when I'm in a huge stress or something like that, my friends notice, and they call me out for a beer or something."

"Redback is just like a family."

"It feels like you're coming in to hang out with your friends," says Peli. "That's what motivates people to come in every Saturday. You do it [for the work], but you're also there to hang out with your friends and be part of a community."

Are you Redback Racing material?

The biggest myth is that the team only recruits engineers and they MUST love Formula One or a motorsport. That's definitely not the case as Redback Racing looks for people across several disciplines, whether it's medical science and design, or media and business. If you're interested in joining the team but don't think you're studying the right degree, there's no need to worry so much.

"You don't have to be an engineering student; it's not a mandatory requirement for our application process," says Chelsea. "Even if you were, say, a law student who is really interested in motorsport, if you can show us that you're willing to learn and have some foundational skills, the only real limit is what you can and want to do."

"We have med students who train our drivers and [business] students to help us with our contracts with industry people, so there's something for everyone." 

For those interested in applying but are hesitant about their perceived knowledge gap, don't stress over that either. Thanks to an incredibly educational and supportive environment, members will pick up new skills in no time, and the team will make sure you learn what you need to learn.

Rishabh says being on the team has made him a better engineer as he has picked up many skills he normally wouldn't have gained in the classroom, such as an aptitude with CAD software. It's a similar story with Eric. "[Team members] actually helped me learn C++, and they had workshops to upskill my knowledge," recalls Eric. "So I learned it along the way, and I'm still learning."

Perhaps the most important bit of advice from the team is don't be put off by the prospect of rejection, as that's an opportunity to figure out where you can improve.

"I didn't get in the first time I applied," recalls Peli. "I didn't have the skills at the time, but just by applying, I was able to see where my knowledge gaps were. If I didn't apply for the first time, I'm not sure I would've gotten in after the second [attempt]."

"You should just apply, even if you don't feel like you're going to get in!"