De la Harpe F1

Medicatech Ltd., established at CH-1169 Yens/Switzerland and specialized in biomedical and micro-mechanics, accepted in 2000 an extraordinary challenge:

Build a radio controlled 1 : 3 scale model of a Formula 1 racing car !

The major motivation for this ambitious project was Thierry de la Harpe's apprenticeship, extending over a 4 year period. The manufacturing processes connected with the construction of the model, covered just about all aspects of Thierry's training program.

It became important to the entire Medicatech team to prove that they could not only face up to such a unique challenge, but also bring it to a successful ending. Carried by their passion for anything mechanical and in particular for the Formula 1, they got on with the job.

In the beginning, they hoped to have some assistance from active racing teams, but this proved to be wishful thinking. So it was decided to make use of a 1 : 18 scale model of a Formula 1 Ferrari 1999 as a basis for the project.

The initial planning involved many months of handwritten notes and hand-drawn sketches. They finally got around to making use of computer techniques. Phillippe Comte "SDO", a member of the family and an experienced CAD user, offered to take care of the general concept as well as the countless detail drawings by means of the well known "3D Solid Edge" software.

Apart from the motor, shock absorbers, differential, clutch, brake shoes and spoilers, all other parts were handmade by Thierry at the Medicatech workshop.

The entire team wishes to congratulate and thank Thierry for his total commitment not only to this project, but also to his professional training all along his four year apprenticeship.

The team's professional capacities, their serious-mindedness and their enthusiasm finally turned a wild dream into a total success.

At present, the team is anxiously awaiting the moment when the model will be able to display its full capacities. They are already anticipating their next challenge: The final tuning of the model.

Congratulations !

The management of Medicatech s.à.r.l. . conveys their heartiest congratulations to Thierry De la Harpe for having successfully terminated his final apprenticeship exams as polymechanic. Not only did he achieve the remarkable note of 5,4 out of 6, he also took first place amongst all polymechanic apprentices having passed their ex-ams in the canton of Vaud.

In addition, due to his active participation in the Formula 1 project he was awarded the following prices:

Best merit price awarded by Bobst Ltd.

"Best apprentice" price awarded by the GIM-CH.

Special EPSIC price sponsored by the Lion's club for a scholarship at the Engineering school at Yverdon.