Whenever native son Jacques Villeneuve takes to the track, TVs across the province are switched on to monitor the bleached blond's every move. Making sure that everything fits together properly can be the tricky part. The Detroit race is organized by the Society of Automotive Engineers and the judges hail from the engineering departments of Ford, Chrysler and General Motors. McGill entered the competition once before, in 1995. The University finished 23rd overall and was named the best new team.
Speed is only part of the equation.
Teams are also judged for their car's design, craftsmanship and fuel economy, and on their salesmanship. Once the marks for the various categories are tallied, an overall winner is named. The McGill Formula One car will be unveiled on campus next month and it's already booked for appearances at the Montreal Casino and the Montreal and Quebec City auto shows.