The competition
What is FSAE?
Formula SAE is an international engineering competition where university students design, build, and compete with formula-style race cars. It is organized by SAE International and raced at Michigan International Speedway.
Overview
How it works
Teams design vehicles that meet strict performance requirements while balancing cost, safety, and manufacturability. They present them in static events covering design, cost, and business strategy, then prove them in dynamic events from acceleration to a 22-kilometer endurance run.
FSAE is a stepping stone for aspiring engineers: exposure to automotive design, and hard-won skills in project management, teamwork, and communication.
Why it matters
Why teams do it
FSAE simulates the challenges professionals face in the automotive industry. A car has to perform on track while meeting strict criteria for reliability and cost, and a team has to collaborate, think critically, and adapt to make that happen.
Employers value FSAE alumni for exactly that: proof they can tackle complex projects and succeed under pressure.
Scoring
The scored events
Points on the table
1,000 total
Static: 325 pts
Dynamic: 675 pts
Static events: engineering, cost, business
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Design event
150 pts
Teams present their engineering design to judges, explaining design choices, innovation, and functionality.
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Cost event
100 pts
Participants provide a detailed report of the car's production costs and justify their manufacturing decisions.
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Business presentation
75 pts
Teams pitch a hypothetical business case, presenting their car as a profitable and marketable product.
Static: 325 of 1,000 pts
Dynamic events: on-track performance
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Acceleration
100 pts
How quickly the car covers 75 meters from a standstill.
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Skidpad
75 pts
Cornering ability and lateral acceleration in a figure-eight course.
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Autocross
125 pts
Handling, agility, and overall dynamic performance on a technical course.
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Endurance
275 pts
A 22-kilometer test of durability and reliability under prolonged use.
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Fuel efficiency
100 pts
Measured during endurance to gauge consumption and efficiency.
Dynamic: 675 of 1,000 pts
Point values per the official 2026 Formula SAE rules. Endurance alone is worth more than every static event combined.
Before any of it: safety and technical inspection
Tilt test
The car must not leak fluids and must remain stable at extreme angles.
Brake test
All four brakes must be able to lock simultaneously.
Noise test
The vehicle must meet decibel level requirements.
Sun Devil Motorsports
Where SDM competes
Sun Devil Motorsports fields an internal-combustion entry every year and is building its first modern electric car for FSAE Electric in June 2027.