Race To The Top is an approximately 24-minute US documentary short directed by Jack DiLorenzo. Made as a student project within Tulane University’s programme, it explores motorsport through the experience of the Tulane Formula Racingteam during its official debut in a competitive league.
The documentary closely follows a group of students – Michael, Nick, Will and other team members – as they enter circuit racing for the first time. It documents their technical, sporting and emotional journey as they design, build and bring a racing car to the track in a highly selective academic competition.
Through race footage, preparation and direct testimony, Race To The Top shows not only the sporting dimension of motorsport but also teamwork, deadline pressure and the determination required to compete at a high level, even in a university context. The protagonists are involved as themselves in sporting settings such as pits, workshops and tracks, offering an authentic view of the discipline’s formative and challenging dimension.
The narrative conveys growth and resilience: the pursuit of success is not only a sporting goal, but also a personal and collective one. The drive to improve, the ability to face unforeseen events and group cohesion are central elements of the story.
Produced by a team made entirely of Tulane University students, the documentary was completed on 5 February 2025 with a modest 2,500-dollar budget. Despite being a university project, it shows clear attention to sporting and technical storytelling, with professionally oriented visual construction.
Film Information
Title: Race To The Top
Original title: Race To The Top
Director: Jack DiLorenzo
Production: Jack DiLorenzo, Andrew Simon, Cole Farrah, Noah Levine, Daisy Solomon
Country: United States
Language: English
Running time: 24 minutes
Genre: Documentary
Sport featured: Motorsport
Protagonist(s): Michael, Nick, Will and the Tulane Formula Racing team
Completion date: 5 February 2025
Premiere: [Information not available]
Distributor: [Information not available]
Shooting format: Digital, 16:9, colour
Director’s first film: No
Student project: Yes – Tulane University