To victory with self-built solar cars

An exciting race was the culmination of a varied week: In the end, a few seconds decided which of the self-built solar cars was the fastest. Wilhelm Partecke took victory with 7.55 seconds.

This year the DRÄXLMAIER Group invited people to “Holidays in the Workshop” for the fifth time. The project by the Landshut district in cooperation with the city of Vilsbiburg and regional companies is intended to get young people between the ages of twelve and 16 excited about the world of technology. This year, 18 girls and boys were guests at DRÄXLMAIER during the last week of the summer holidays. The race marked the end of an exciting week in which the students had the opportunity not only to build a solar-powered vehicle themselves, but also to get a taste of the exciting world of technology at regional companies.

Young people get to know regional companies
While the students built small solar cars at the DRÄXLMAIER Group in the morning, they got to know various companies from the region in the afternoon. In addition to DRÄXLMAIER, DELTA, Antholzer and the Ostermaier car dealership, the Rote Raben were also there again, with whom the young people were able to train and play for an afternoon.

“As a family business that is always striving for new, innovative technical solutions for the mobility of the future, it is particularly important to us to promote the enthusiasm for technology and the talent of young people,” emphasizes Olivier Dubois, responsible for marketing and corporate communications at DRÄXLMAIER.

From the first design to the final product
Every morning from Monday to Thursday, the young people worked diligently at the DRÄXLMAIER Group on their own small solar-powered vehicles - from the draft and design to the assembly of the individual components and the first driving tests. Under the guidance of trainers and trainees from DRÄXLMAIER, small, ready-to-drive solar cars were created. The big conclusion to the holiday program finally took place in the form of a race with an award ceremony on Friday. In addition to the prizes for the fastest vehicles, prizes were also awarded in the technical processing and design categories. Creativity, speed and technical skills – the students demonstrated all of this during the “Holidays in the Workshop”.

Vilsbiburg's First Mayor Sibylle Entwistle was able to see the impressive results for herself on the last day of the event. “I am extremely pleased that the DRÄXLMAIER Group and the participating companies have once again made it possible to give young people practical insights into technical subjects this year.” Silvia Bayerl from the Landshut district was also enthusiastic about the participants’ achievements: “The young people demonstrated great creativity and technical ability. Holidays in the workshop have become an established event to encourage young people’s enthusiasm for technology.”

“The young people can be proud of their results”
“The young people all worked on their workpieces with great enthusiasm and commitment. They can be really proud of their results,” concluded Barbara Gerber, head of international training at DRÄXLMAIER and therefore host and co-juror of “Holidays in the Workshop”. The participants also look back positively on the past week: “I really enjoyed the whole project week, especially building the car. I think every car turned out very well,” said a delighted Hunor Ulcz, whose vehicle was awarded the prize for special technical skills.