Formula Student is the world's largest student engineering competition, where teams from universities across the globe design, build, and race small-scale formula-style racing cars. It challenges students to apply their engineering knowledge, develop practical skills, and work as a team to overcome real-world automotive engineering problems. The competition not only focuses on the car's speed and performance but also evaluates the team's business acumen, project management, and presentation skills.
ENDURANCE
The flagship event of Formula Student and the pinnacle of engineering tests for the FS racecars. The endurance event tests the car's reliability and durability over a long-distance race, typically 22 kilometers. Points are awarded based on the total time taken to complete the race.
ACCELERATION
The car’s ability to accelerate from a standstill over 75m is tested. The fastest time recorded determines the score, and the winner scores a maximum of 75 points.
SKIDPAD
This event worth 75 points evaluates the car’s steady-state cornering performance by navigating it through a figure-eight track, making 2 laps around each circle. The late
AUTOCROSS
The car's maneuverability and agility are evaluated on a 1km course with obstacles like chicanes, slaloms, and hairpins. Two drivers are given two attempts at the course.
EFFICIENCY
This event runs concurrently with the endurance event and measures the car's fuel or energy consumption. Teams must balance speed with efficiency, as excessive fuel or energy usage can result in penalties.
The team must create a business around their formula student vehicle and pitch their idea to a panel of judges. The presentation should highlight the car’s market potential, financial plan, and marketing strategy. This event tests the team's communication skills and their ability to sell their concept.
This event evaluates the team's understanding of manufacturing costs. Teams must justify their budget through a cost explanation document, which includes trade-off decisions, make-or-buy decisions, and distinctions between prototype and mass production.
The team is required to submit a technical document showing the engineering design of the car, and its implementation in real life. Judged by industry experts including Peter Jones, Pat Clarke, Claude Rouelle, and many others, this event assesses the depth and practicality of the design.