Overdrive Racing – More Than Speed — It’s Science in Motion.

Over Drive Racing

Pushing it to the max

About Overdrive Racing

Overdrive Racing is a STEM Racing team from Ascend International School, competing at the national level in STEM racing. Our team is composed of passionate individuals aged 11 to 16, each dedicated to pushing boundaries in engineering, enterprise, and innovation. With a collaborative spirit and strong work ethic, Overdrive is more than a racing team we are a movement of young minds transforming ideas into performance.

The Team

As Project Manager, he was responsible for the project’s successful completion, encompassing its timely delivery and adherence to budget constraints. This role demanded constant oversight of all tasks, continuous encouragement of team members and time constraints. He was chosen for his strong leadership skills and past experience

Her responsibilities included ensuring the timely placement of all necessary items to avoid manufacturing delays, estimating costs, and maintaining a well-organised summary of the budget for seamless integration by the Project Manager. She also played a crucial role in approaching collaborators and sponsors. Appointed for her reliability in vendor communication and follow-ups.

Sponsorship Manager: Advik’s role was central to our financial viability, conducting all sponsorship-related activities. This involved direct communication with partners and stakeholders. Handled outreach and sponsorships due to his confident and persuasive communication.

Aaryan was responsible for the visual identity of our team, including the design of our uniform, and overall graphic elements. His creative input was vital to promoting our team’s brand and enhancing its public perception. Assigned branding and pit design due to his standout visual design skills.

Rohaan’s expertise was critical in ensuring the design of the car was up to the level the team expected as he worked closely with Keya to sketch the car before she made it. His in depth knowledge of physics principles made him crucial in understanding the ansys results and real life airflow readings. Selected for manufacturing because of his strong Physics concepts.

Keya took the lead in developing and manufacturing the car, overseeing all work related to its development. Her contributions were particularly significant in the CAD & CAM testing process and in the scripting and introduction of the verbal presentation. Took charge of CAD/CAM due to past experience in FTC.

Gallery

Velocity X

The Spirit of Innovation in Motion

Velocity X is the physical embodiment of Overdrive Racing’s core values — engineered for speed, built for excellence. Designed with precision and a passion for innovation, Velocity X features groundbreaking aerodynamic advancements including hollow side pods and a custom inlet system specifically optimized to reduce drag.

With a predicted track time of 1.089 seconds, this car isn’t just fast — it’s a calculated force, ready to take on the Nationals and leave a lasting impression.

Achievement

Winners of the Management & Enterprise Award at the Mumbai Regional Finals recognized for outstanding project management, sponsorship strategy, and branding.

Achievement

Winners of the Management & Enterprise Award at the Mumbai Regional Finals recognized for outstanding project management, sponsorship strategy, and branding.

The Challenge

STEM Racing, formerly known as F1 in Schools, is an international STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) competition where students aged 9-19 design, manufacture, and race miniature compressed air-powered F1 cars.

Corporate Identity

A strong visual identity is essential for a team to stand out and be remembered. This includes creating a unique logo, choosing a color palette, designing uniforms, posters, social media content, and setting up an engaging pit display. Through this process, students learn how to present themselves professionally, maintain consistency across platforms, and express the team’s vision visually. Corporate Identity is more than just design—it’s about telling a story with clarity and impact.

Research and Development

The heart of STEM Racing is the design and production of a high-performance miniature F1 car powered by a CO₂ canister. Students use CAD software like Fusion 360 and SolidWorks to digitally prototype their car, followed by simulations using Ansys or SimScale to optimize aerodynamics. After testing, the car is manufactured using CNC machining, 3D printing, and other modern processes. This phase teaches real-world engineering, prototyping, and iterative testing—mirroring what professional automotive teams do.

Team and Project Management

Each team functions like a small company. Students take on leadership roles—project managers, engineers, sponsorship leads, designers—and must coordinate timelines, track progress using Gantt charts, and manage budgets using spreadsheets or project software. Risk matrices help plan for uncertainties. By practicing structured workflows and collaborative decision-making, students build strong time-management, communication, and leadership skills—critical in both academic and corporate environments.

Marketing and Communication

In addition to building a car, teams must market themselves. This involves developing professional sponsor decks, managing social media (LinkedIn, Instagram), crafting business portfolios, and preparing a formal verbal presentation for judges. Students learn to network with potential sponsors, secure funding, and build relationships. This real-world experience in business development and public relations prepares them for any career involving communication, branding, or stakeholder engagement.

Our School

Ascend International School is a progressive, IB-accredited institution in Mumbai that emphasizes inquiry-based learning, creativity, and holistic development. Known for its open-minded culture and student-led approach, Ascend encourages independent thinking and hands-on exploration beyond traditional academics.

For Team Overdrive, the school was a crucial pillar of support. The team benefited immensely from Ascend’s flexible academic environment, which allowed students to balance competition deadlines with academic responsibilities. Generous access to school facilities—including the design lab, tools, and prototyping spaces—enabled continuous development of their car and portfolios.

Teachers and staff offered guidance and mentorship while still granting the team autonomy to lead the project themselves. Most importantly, Ascend’s culture of trust and collaboration empowered students to take initiative, work after hours when needed, and engage deeply with every aspect of the competition.

Sponsor

House of Umrao – Fine Jewelry

House of Umrao is a luxury jewelry house celebrated for its meticulous craftsmanship, heritage-inspired design, and timeless elegance. Known for bespoke bridal collections and exquisite fine jewelry, the brand merges tradition with contemporary style. With a legacy rooted in quality and exclusivity, House of Umrao serves a discerning clientele seeking artistic and refined pieces.

Support Provided

House of Umrao provided monetary sponsorship that supported core competition expenses such as registration, prototyping, and logistics. Their belief in our vision helped us move forward with confidence and present ourselves with the professionalism expected at a national
level.

Hind Rectifiers Ltd. (Hirect)

Hirect is a pioneering Indian manufacturer of power electronic
equipment including rectifiers, transformers, and traction converters for Indian Railways and industrial sectors. With over 60 years of experience, they are known for engineering excellence, high-quality manufacturing, and strong R&D. Their work supports the nation’s infrastructure and electrification with cutting-edge power systems.

Support Provided

Hirect not only provided monetary sponsorship but also helped us
access CNC machining and 3D printing for our car’s components. Their technical assistance allowed us to produce precise parts, essential for achieving our aerodynamic and performance goals.

Intercont+ Logistics

Intercont+ is a leading logistics and supply chain management firm offering integrated shipping, warehousing, and transportation
services. Known for their modern, tech-driven approach, they manage complex operations across borders with speed and reliability. Their innovation-first mindset helps businesses streamline supply chains and deliver better customer experiences worldwide.

Support Provided

Intercont+ supported us through financial sponsorship, which directly contributed to key expenses in design, testing, and team travel. Their involvement enabled us to focus on performance and execution without compromising on resource quality or planning.

Soulfuel – Nutrition Reimagined

Soulfuel is a premium nutrition brand that creates clean,
performance-oriented products including snacks, supplements, and functional foods. With a mission to support high-performance
lifestyles, Soulfuel focuses on quality ingredients and functional
benefits. The brand promotes sustained energy, mental clarity, and
wellness ideal for students, professionals, and athletes alike.

Support Provided

Soulfuel offered both monetary and in-kind sponsorship. They supplied the team with snacks and wellness products during build sessions and competition travel, helping us stay focused and energized.

Harish Exporters

Harish Exporters is a globally recognized textile and garment exporter based in India, supplying premium apparel across international markets. Known for quality craftsmanship, ethical manufacturing, and timely delivery, the company serves both fashion retailers and corporate clients. Their attention to detail and efficiency sets them apart in a highly competitive industry.

Support Provided

Harish Exporters provided our team jerseys, ensuring we had a cohesive and professional appearance throughout the event. Their support elevated our branding and presence during the Nationals and in all official media.

Ansys

Ansys is a global leader in engineering simulation software,
empowering innovators to design, test, and optimize products across industries from aerospace and automotive to electronics and energy. Their suite of tools enables accurate simulations of real-world conditions, reducing the need for costly prototypes and enhancing performance and reliability.

Support Provided

We used Ansys Fluent for aerodynamic testing via CFD simulations. These insights guided key decisions in our car’s body design and fin placement, allowing us to reduce drag and boost overall performance without extensive physical testing.

Paintbooth Studio

Paintbooth Studio is a vibrant art space in Mumbai specializing in kinetic art, fluid and crystal bears. They host curated birthday parties, private and corporate events, date nights, and family fun sessions. Reflecting Team Overdrive’s love for innovation and creativity, they transform every experience into a colorful, collaborative, and imaginative journey.

Support Provided

Paintbhooth Studio supported the visualisation process with expert insights. From concept to color, their guidance helped shape our design. They also played a key role in achieving a professional finish with high-quality painting.