The Tarantula 2025: An Innovative Inter-High School Project Combining Mechanics, Design, and Communication

A race at Le Mans, an educational challenge, a collective adventure

From March 10 to 12, 2025, the Monnet-Mermoz high school in Aurillac once again kicked off the event. High Schools in the Race, on the mythical Maison Blanche circuit at Le Mans. But this year, an unprecedented and ambitious project took place: a collaboration between Monnet-Mermoz High School and Saint-Géraud High School, gathered around the same racing car, the famous Mygale, to make it a unique technical, aesthetic, and media object.

This project, which combines mechanical skills, graphic design, and communication, offers students a professional, concrete, and deeply enriching experience.

An unprecedented partnership between two establishments in Cantal

This is the first time a public high school and a private high school in Aurillac have partnered for this challenge. On one hand, students from the Bac Pro Vehicle Maintenance program at Monnet-Mermoz High School are responsible for the maintenance, technical adjustments, and driving of the single-seater car. On the other hand, the creative and communication departments at Saint-Géraud High School are handling the creation of a logo, the car's rebranding, its graphic wrap, and the production of content to promote the project.

This inter-institutional collaboration enhances everyone's skills, stimulates teamwork, and demonstrates the pedagogical openness of both institutions.

A refurbished Tarantula: mechanical expertise in action

Before it can shine on the track, the Mygale was completely refurbished by the students in their final year of the Bac Pro Vehicle Maintenance program. Under the supervision of their teachers, they inspected every component, overhauled the engine, adjusted the cooling systems, and made necessary repairs to the entire structure.

The car was then entrusted to the Condamine Bodywork, project partner, for a full paint job. This booth visit allowed us to start with a clean slate: a white hull ready to receive the covering designed by the students.

A makeover by Saint-Géraud: creativity serving visual identity

A graphic creation rooted in the territory

At Saint-Géraud High School, the graduating seniors Vocational Baccalaureate in Crafts, Art, and Design, specialization in Visual Communication/Visual Merchandising (Multi-Media Visual Communication) enthusiastically took on the project. Their mission: create a coherent, bold, and distinctive graphic design to dress up the Mygale.

They chose to draw their inspiration from the symbols of Cantal: stylized mountains, cow silhouettes, mineral colors, and dynamic shapes evoking speed and nature. The objective was to pay homage to their territory while creating a striking visual for a race car.

From sketch to desktop publishing: a complete and formative process

After a creative research phase, each student proposed a paper model, which was then transferred to Illustrator. This deskilling work required precision, rigor, and patience. Three projects were selected, then the design by Julie Bakhouche has been chosen to adorn the Mygale. As for the logo, it is the proposal from’Amandine Soubiran Who convinced the jury.

Sketch boards

Logo proposals

The final files were carefully delivered to the students at CAP Signage and Graphic Decorations For installation, with particular attention to technical constraints.

The teachers who accompanied this stage are: Julien Lampre, Manuel Couette, and Frédéric Le Falher.

Meticulous covering installation by CAP Signage and Graphic Decoration students

In the workshops of Saint-Géraud High School, the class of 2nd Year Signage and Decoration applied all their expertise to bring the vision imagined by their classmates to life.

From file verification to cutting the adhesives, and their application onto the car's curved and complex surfaces, every move required precision and concentration. This technical installation step represents a real challenge for students in training, which they met with seriousness and professionalism.

This collaborative work between creatives and technicians perfectly embodies the richness of the signage professions, where technical rigor enhances graphic imagination.

Framed by Emmanuel Blanquart and Jean-Jacques Maffre, the students had a concrete, rewarding, and meaningful experience.

Professional communication provided by BTS Com graduates

Because a beautiful project deserves to be seen and recognized. The students of BTS Communication 1st year Students from Saint-Géraud High School took charge of designing the press kit, creating editorial and graphic content, and disseminating the project to the media.

Writing, photography, layout, interviews, and image management: this mission allowed them to implement their skills on a real project, with clear objectives, a precise timeline, and a challenge of national visibility.

Supervised by Marie-Laure Thomas and Patricia Floric

This cross-functional work illustrates the growing importance of communication professions in educational projects with high added value.

Students from Monnet-Mermoz on the starting line

As the car took shape, the final-year MV (Vehicle Maintenance) students continued their race preparations. Two of them, Simon Rouches and Joé Delport, were selected as drivers, following a rigorous process combining theoretical tests, timed circuit laps, and motivational interviews.

For them, participating in this adventure is a source of pride, but also a rare opportunity to discover the world of motorsport competition. Their goal: to defend the colors of their high school with determination and to honor the collective work undertaken.

Alongside the pilots, mechanics Thomas Leguillon, Axel Nedelec, Raphaël Cantournet, and Louis Lachaux ensured the proper functioning of the car throughout the competition.

An extraordinary human and educational adventure

This project around the Mygale 2025 is much more than a race. It's A rich learning journey, demanding and comprehensive, where every student finds their place, regardless of their profile, level, or specialization.

It is also a human experience memorable, which forges memories, develops concrete skills, and values collaborative work.

The Mygale 2025 team has won the award for best vehicle decoration!

A big bravo to all the students and trainees who participated in this beautiful project, as well as to the teachers and trainers who made it possible.