McLaren engineering scholars reflect on whirlwind time
1 June 2023
Mechanical engineering students Sabrina Yarndley and Joshua Cates are well on the road to success after an opportunity of a lifetime.
It’s been a whirlwind few months for mechanical engineering students Sabrina Yarndley and Joshua Cates.
The pair played a significant role in the success of the University’s Formula SAE Team that beat 22 other universities to win the Australasian F:SAE EV-Class competition in December. The three-day student engineering competition held in Winton, Australia, is judged on the design, construction and racing of an internal combustion or electric race car up to 610cc/80kW.
Sabrina was the team’s chief engineer, and Joshua was the aerodynamics manufacturer and design leader.
Fresh off their win, Sabrina and Joshua took a direct flight from Australia to the UK to begin a three-month internship at UK-based supercar company McLaren Automotive.
Both were named as the latest Bruce McLaren engineering scholars, thanks to a donor-supported travel and internship award for Faculty of Engineering students that was set up to honour New Zealand racing legend Bruce McLaren.
“It was definitely the opportunity of a lifetime,” says Sabrina.
During their internship, Sabrina and Joshua were based at the state-of-the-art McLaren Technology Centre in Woking where they had stints with designers and engineers to gain a unique insight into the workings of the company.
“We got to see a different side of engineering to what we’re exposed to at University,” says Joshua. “There are a lot more aspects that go into designing and completing a project, and a lot of different jobs that you don’t necessarily think of.”
My parents could not have imagined me working on cars.They’re taking it a little bit more seriously now.
The scholarship can play a big role in getting engineering students on the road to success. Former Bruce McLaren engineering scholar and alumna, Lizzy Grant, is now working to develop battery technology for the company’s electrified powertrains.
Sabrina flatted with Lizzy during the internship and says the mentorship she provided helped the pair to settle in quickly.
“She was extremely helpful and showed us all the little things about living in a different country that you need to know,” says Sabrina.
Joshua has been a Formula 1 fan for a while, but Sabrina didn’t have a big interest in cars until her passion for working with composite materials led her to join the Formula SAE team.
“It was kind of my entry point into working around cars.
“I thought, ‘Actually, I do enjoy this. I could see myself working on this in the future.’”
The pair are both finishing their studies this year and are still involved with the Formula SAE team. Joshua is hoping to continue working in the composite materials area when he finishes, while Sabrina has plans to start a PhD that focuses on crash structures in vehicles and how improvements can be made to protect automobile occupants.
“My parents could not have imagined me working on cars,” says Sabrina. “They’re taking it a little bit more seriously now.”
By Hussein Moses
This story first appeared in the June 2023 edition of UniNews.