Ivan Medrano

Background

About Ivan Medrano

It all started with the 2017 F1 Belgian GP. My family and I had just sat down at a steakhouse for the first time in a while, and in the background, I noticed the two pink Force India racecars barreling down the Kemmel straight into Les Combes. I don't remember much else about that dinner since it's been a while, but mostly because my attention was glued to the screen. From then on, my determination to enter the automotive industry and motorsport has only grown. At first, like every other kid, the dream was to become a driver and champion. But, growing up in a middle-to-lower-class family, even as a kid, I knew the task was a tall order. Instead of moving on and giving up my dreams, my goals switched around the time I built a makeshift "aerodynamics tunnel" out of cardboard, an old fan, and some tape. I'd known that I'd had a passion for building and using my hands ever since I was a kid, but this new prospect of combining my automotive dreams with my knack was exciting. Ever since then, my passion has only grown. Now, thanks to this childhood dream, I’m pursuing an Aeronautical Engineering degree at UC San Diego. At the same time, I’m applying the skills I gain in the classroom alongside a dedicated team at Triton Solar Car as we attempt to make school history by building UCSD’s first-ever solar-powered racecar. I’m far from done learning; I’m always eager to connect with professionals in motorsports and aerodynamics to gain insights into specific engineering roles, seek mentorship in motorsports, and get advice on breaking into highly specialized teams. I’m excited for what the future holds and ready to turn this passion into a lifelong career.