WHAT IS FSAE?
Formula SAE (FSAE) is an international collegiate engineering competition organized by SAE International that challenges university students to design, build, and race a small, open-wheel formula-style race car. The competition simulates a real-world automotive engineering program, where student teams operate as if they were a startup company designing a prototype race vehicle for weekend autocross racing.
In Formula SAE, teams are judged not only on vehicle performance, but also on engineering design, manufacturing quality, cost analysis, and business presentation. This makes FSAE one of the most respected and comprehensive student engineering competitions in the world.
Founding of FSAE
The inaugural FSAE competition in 1981 marked a turning point in engineering education. The event was launched with four founding university teams, establishing the framework for what would become one of the most respected student engineering competitions in the world.
Bearcats Motorsports at the University of Cincinnati was one of those original founding four teams, playing a direct role in shaping the early identity and standards of FSAE. This places the University of Cincinnati among the earliest institutions to recognize the value of experiential, competition-based engineering education.
Events
A Breakdown for Each Day
Tuesday
Teams will travel to Brooklyn, Michigan, to the Michigan International Speedway. As of 2026, this is the only competition within North America for FSAE Rules that is sanctioned by SAE International. Teams are only allowed to check in and park their trailers in the Paddock.
Michigan International Speedway
Wednesday
The focus for the day is to pass all technical inspections.
Structural Equivalency Spreadsheet
The car is required to pass a template that ensures driver safety for all drivers within the 5th percentile female to the 95th percentile male.
Technical Inspections
A technical inspection by industry professionals. The car is required to meet all standards of the 136-page rule book. This typically takes 30 minutes-1 hour. All parts can be removed and inspected upon request.
Scales
At the competition, the scales will be open, and each team's car will need to be weighed before design on Thursday.
Inspection Stations
Thursday
The focus for the day is to get through more intense testing that can involve the car being turned on. We are also set for certain events that are judged based on our ability to display our understanding of design, cost, and business scenarios.
Final Technical Events
Tilt Test
For this test, we ensure that at a high G-Force, the car will not tip over. It is tested at a 45 and 60-degree angle. Just in case there is still a roll hoop to ensure driver safety.
Sound Test
The car is sound tested to the rulebook guidelines at 2 rpm levels. The decibel limit at idle is 103dB and 110 dB at a higher RPM.
Brakes Test
The car needs to test the brakes before getting up to high speeds. For this event, the driver needs to hit 30mph in a short distance and then come to a complete stop while locking all 4 tires and keeping the engine alive.
Static Events
Business Presentation
3 Step process to focus on selling your team to an investor or buyers of your team's car. Consists of the following:
- Request for Proposal
- Virtual Presentation
- Finals Presentation
Cost Presentation
Assess the team's Ability to make a budget-friendly car that can win.
Design
Evaluate the team's adherence to good design practices during the conception, iteration, integration, and validation of every subsystem on the vehicle.
Friday
The focus for the day is to begin driving the car in dynamic events and performing well in all these events.
Dynamic Events
Acceleration
Measures the car's acceleration over a 75m straight track.
Skid-Pad
Measures car's cornering ability over a constant-radius turn over a figure-8 track.
Autocross
Measures a car's maneuverability and handling over a tight course with a series of straights and turns.
Saturday
On Saturday, the car will drive the max distance it is designed to drive in one sitting. This is the final event in the competition and the cars' designed life.
Dynamic Events
Endurance
Measures a car's durability and reliability over a race around the track.
Efficiency
We measure how much fuel was used in the car during the endurance event. We are then scored on whoever used the least amount of fuel, is the winner of this event.
Countdown to Competition!
No Sleep Till Brooklyn!
May 13-16th, 2026
Why FSAE?
Formula SAE places students in a real-world engineering environment, where they design, build, test, and defend a complete vehicle under industry constraints. Students gain hands-on experience in mechanical design, manufacturing, data analysis, project management, and technical communication. All skills employers value far beyond classroom theory.
Recruiters from automotive, motorsports, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing actively seek out Formula SAE students because the competition mirrors professional product development. FSAE doesn’t just build race cars; it builds job-ready engineers and leaders.
Point Breakdown
Static Events
Business Presentation: 75
Cost: 100
Design: 150
Dynamic Events
Acceleration: 100
Skid Pad: 75
Autocross: 125
Efficiency: 100
Endurance: 275
Total: 1000 Points
Events are judged by industry professionals from around the world!
Other Competitions
Many teams run their cars at Formula Student events internationally, often requiring small technical revisions, and at SCCA autocross or time trial events, where FSAE cars compete in formula or modified classes. Teams also participate in intercollegiate shootouts such as the Pitt Shootout, gaining additional seat time, testing opportunities, and competitive experience outside the official FSAE season.
Some of these past and current events include:
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FSAE Michigan (Primary Competition)
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FSAE Germany
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FSAE Italy
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FSAE Australia
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FSAE Brazil
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FSAE North - Canada
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FSAE Lincoln
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FSAE West - California
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Formula Bharat - India
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Formula Student Austria
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Formula Student East
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Formula Student Germany
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Formula Student Japan
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Formula Student Spain
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Formula Student UK
Other Unofficial Competition Events We Attend:
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Pitt Shootout
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Oakland GP
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Cincy SCCA
FSAE / Formula Student Events Map
Formula SAE and Formula Student run off of extremily similar but different rules. Often teams will design and build their car to compete in both competitions. 2007 was the last time the University of Cincinnati did this successfully but the 2024 car attempted to do so.
