FORMULA STUDENT
The competition, initiated by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) in 1981, it is now held in nearly 20 countries across 4 continents and is one of the most prestigious engineering competitions in the world, with teams from top universities and experienced professionals participating. The aim of the competition is to train qualified personnel for the automotive industry and provide a platform for testing new technologies. Each competition typically features around 40-50 combustion vehicles, 20-30 electric vehicles, and 10 autonomous vehicles.
Static Events
Business Plan Presentation​
The Business Plan Presentation Event evaluates a team's ability to develop and pitch a viable business model based on their vehicle or a key component. The team must present their concept as a profitable opportunity, convincing the judges, who act as potential investors. The presentation is strictly timed at 10 minutes, followed by a Q&A session where any team member can respond. Additionally, teams must submit a 30-second pitch video summarizing their business idea. Clarity, feasibility, and financial planning are key factors in scoring.
Cost and Manufacturing
The Cost and Manufacturing Event assesses a team's understanding of production feasibility, cost efficiency, carbon footprint awareness and budgeting. Teams must submit a detailed cost and emissions report outlining material, labor, and manufacturing expenses and process carbon emissions while demonstrating how they optimize cost and emissions without compromising performance. Judges review cost breakdowns, compare them to industry standards, and challenge teams on their decision-making processes and knowledge of carbon emissions on production. The event also includes a real-case scenario where teams must react to a cost and emissions-related challenge, showcasing their ability.
Engineering Design Event
The Engineering Design Event tests a team’s technical knowledge, design choices, and innovation in vehicle development. Judges, often experienced engineers and industry professionals, evaluate the car's structural, aerodynamic, and mechanical components, questioning teams on their design justifications and engineering trade-offs. Teams must provide supporting calculations, simulations, and physical test results to validate their decisions. Emphasis is placed on performance, reliability, and manufacturability, ensuring that each design element serves a purpose in achieving optimal race performance.
Dynamic Events
Acceleration
The Acceleration Event aims to assess the car's acceleration performance by recording the time it takes to cover a distance of 75 meters (246 feet) from a standing start. Ultimately, the event serves as a comprehensive test of the car’s overall design and engineering efficiency in delivering maximum performance.
Skidpad
The Skidpad Event assesses a car’s lateral grip and handling through a figure-eight track with two circles. The vehicle enters perpendicularly, completes initial setup laps, and then records timed laps on both right and left circles before exiting. Scoring is based on the best lap time, with penalties applied for boundary violations or cones hit.
Autocross
Autocross measures a car’s agility and cornering ability over a short, technical circuit filled with tight turns and slaloms. Each team gets multiple attempts, with the best run determining their final score. The event is crucial for seeding positions in the Endurance event, rewarding both speed and precision.
Endurance
Endurance is the ultimate test of reliability, efficiency, and pilot consistency. Cars must complete a long-distance track, typically around 22 km, simulating real-world endurance racing conditions. The event includes driver changes and penalizes any driver errors. Scoring factors in both completion time and energy efficiency, making it a crucial component of the competition.
