Interview with Adrian Reynard

	Interview with Professor Adrian Reynard
Job Title: Motorsport Engineering Consultant Company: Adrian Reynard Why are maths and physics worthwhile subjects to study? They are (unfortunately) necessary if you want to be an engineer in motorsport. Can you give an example where you have used maths and or physics in Motorsports in an interesting, exciting and or fun way? Motorsports in an interesting, exciting & or fun way? I designed all my own cars from 1973 to 1987 and the acted as Chief designer until around 1990. All this time I effectively needed those skills and after that I needed to test the people who were doing my previous job! How did you feel about maths and physics as a child? I found Maths difficult and unnatural. I have never understood calculus to this day. I failed my Maths O level first time round and failed Maths A level - never to be repeated. Physics was much more interesting and I was quite good at this subject. How has your view about them changed over the years? My curiosity never developed for Maths although I eventually obtained high grades at college by memorising procedures and how to solve problems. I do now see just how essential Maths is for an engineer and since motor racing was all about engineering it did motivate me to learn. The Physics side turned into applied Fluids, Thermodynamics and Materials at college and I found these interesting and understood how these could be applied in whatever job I obtained. How important are maths and physics in your field of work and how often do you use them? I have used them consistently as concepts but rarely reverted to complex calculations after the first few years of my career. Concepts in these subjects however have remained extremely important for good engineering judgement and have helped me make better decisions. How did you start/end up working within the Motorsport industry? I built my own racing car as a college student and started my own racing car manufacturing company when I left college at the age of 22. How would it have affected your career if you didn't have maths and physics skills? I wouldn't have had the credibility, confidence nor the ability to make the right design decisions. How essential are the skills of maths and physics to careers within Motorsport? Not at all for marketing. I have known some "engineers" who have been successful without Maths or Physics but they have been very practical people and acquired complementary education through practice. These days don't bother if you haven't at least one or the other - much better both! Which physics equation in your opinion is the most important? For me all Newton's Laws of Motion What is your favourite equation and why? Newton's Laws as above. I never did much complicated stress work, but knowing that less mass in a lower position meant higher performance was a real benefit when my opponents were actually adding weight to their vehicles in order to make them handle better!
© Cranfield University

Interview with Professor Adrian Reynard

Honda f1 car

Job Title: Motorsport Engineering Consultant

Company: Adrian Reynard

Why are maths and physics worthwhile subjects to study?

They are (unfortunately) necessary if you want to be an engineer in motorsport.

Can you give an example where you have used maths and or physics in Motorsports in an interesting, exciting and or fun way?

Motorsports in an interesting, exciting & or fun way? I designed all my own cars from 1973 to 1987 and the acted as Chief designer until around 1990. All this time I effectively needed those skills and after that I needed to test the people who were doing my previous job!

How did you feel about maths and physics as a child?

I found Maths difficult and unnatural. I have never understood calculus to this day. I failed my Maths O level first time round and failed Maths A level - never to be repeated. Physics was much more interesting and I was quite good at this subject.

How has your view about them changed over the years?

My curiosity never developed for Maths although I eventually obtained high grades at college by memorising procedures and how to solve problems.

I do now see just how essential Maths is for an engineer and since motor racing was all about engineering it did motivate me to learn.

The Physics side turned into applied Fluids, Thermodynamics and Materials at college and I found these interesting and understood how these could be applied in whatever job I obtained.

How important are maths and physics in your field of work and how often do you use them?

I have used them consistently as concepts but rarely reverted to complex calculations after the first few years of my career. Concepts in these subjects however have remained extremely important for good engineering judgement and have helped me make better decisions.

How did you start/end up working within the Motorsport industry?

I built my own racing car as a college student and started my own racing car manufacturing company when I left college at the age of 22.

How would it have affected your career if you didn't have maths and physics skills?

I wouldn't have had the credibility, confidence nor the ability to make the right design decisions.

How essential are the skills of maths and physics to careers within Motorsport?

Not at all for marketing. I have known some "engineers" who have been successful without Maths or Physics but they have been very practical people and acquired complementary education through practice.

These days don't bother if you haven't at least one or the other - much better both!

Which physics equation in your opinion is the most important?

For me all Newton's Laws of Motion

What is your favourite equation and why?

Newton's Laws as above. I never did much complicated stress work, but knowing that less mass in a lower position meant higher performance was a real benefit when my opponents were actually adding weight to their vehicles in order to make them handle better!