Engineering in the fast lane

For sophomore mechanical engineering student Lana Portanova, engineering application comes in the form of a novice-level motorsport called Autocross.

Portanova has been competing in autocross—a form of solo automotive time trials where competitors navigate a closed course on the clock—since she was 12 and was inspired to join by her fellow autocrosser (and dad), PhD. Marc Portanova. This year marked Portanova’s third season of national competition, where she achieved a runner-up finish in the C-Street Ladies class at the 52nd annual Tire Rack Sport Car Club of America Solo Nationals in Lincoln, Nebraska. 

Portanova spent years attending autocross events with her dad as part of his pit crew for as long as she can remember, but remarks that competition is a completely different experience once you are the one behind the wheel. This past year, Portanova placed second. “The woman who won first took her sixth consecutive national championship title, the third consecutive in this specific class, so being only a half of a second behind a multi-time national jacketed champion is just insane and completely surreal,” Portanova said.

For Portanova, autocross isn’t just a side hobby—it’s one of the main reasons why she decided to attend Carnegie Mellon. Upon joining CMU’s Formula SAE racing team the fall of her first year on campus, Portanova competed for, and was chosen as, one of four drivers on the team’s fully electric Formula 1 style race car. She will not be driving for CMR in her sophomore year.

Following her FSAE competition season, she struggled to compete in personal events having needed to adapt her driving style to suit the CMR vehicle. Only after a significant amount of time, effort, and support from her dad, Portanova was back on to secure her runner-up title at nationals. Each year, Solo Nationals brings over 1,000 drivers from across the country, serving as the culmination of an entire season of national competition.

Portanova has been featured multiple times on Mazda Motorsport’s media pages. Representatives from Mazda Motorsports placed cameras on her car during her best run, and shared the video on their Instagram page.

From family and extracurriculars, to even her engineering coursework, autocross has a role in nearly every aspect of Portanova’s life. When it comes to her classes, Portanova has seen her lessons come to life in regard to the statics of balancing a trailer, the dynamics of vehicle tuning, and the thermodynamics of tire management. These are all examples of real-world applications of how Portanova’s engineering skillset can be especially useful in securing her next win. 

“My placement at nationals this summer was not only a milestone as a driver but also an extension of my education," Portanova said. “These experiences have shaped me not only as a competitor but also as an engineer. I love my parents so much for supporting my academics and hobbies, and I am especially grateful for my dad and this passion I get to share with him.”