Jayhawk Motorsports
University of Kansas Formula SAE Team
Formula SAE
Design
Build
Race
About Formula SAE
Much more than a Race
The SAE International Formula SAE program is an engineering design competition for undergraduate and graduate students. The competition provides participants with the opportunity to enhance their engineering design and project management skills by applying learned classroom theories in a challenging competition. The engineering design goal for teams is to develop and construct a single-seat race car for the non-professional weekend autocross racer with the best overall package of design, construction, performance, and cost.
The concept behind Formula SAE is that a fictional manufacturing company has contracted a design team to develop a small Formula-style race car. The prototype race car is to be evaluated for its potential as a production item. The target marketing group for the race car is the non-professional weekend autocross racer. Each student team designs, builds and tests a prototype based on a series of rules whose purpose is both to ensure onsite event operations and promote clever problem solving. The vehicle will be inspected in a series of tests to ensure it complies with the competition rules; in addition, the vehicle with driver will be judged in a number of performance tests on track. The rest of the judging is completed by experts from motorsports, automotive, aerospace and supplier industries on student design, cost, and sales presentations.
Formula SAE promotes careers and excellence in engineering as it encompasses all aspects of the automotive industry including research, design, manufacturing, testing, developing, marketing, management, and finances.
The competition
Static Event
Cost Report
Students create a detailed report of all costs of the car. The points are awarded based on total car cost and report quality. Students must also complete a 'Real Case Scenario' to reduce cost in specified areas based on judge request.
Business Presentation
The objective of the Business Presentation is to evaluate the team’s ability to develop and deliver a comprehensive business plan that will convince the executives of a corporation that the team’s car design best meets the demands of the amateur,
weekend competition market.
Engineering Design
In the design event students must present their knowledge of the car and engineering concepts to a panel of judges. If the team is successful at displaying their knowledge, the judges will invite them to attend the Design Finals.
The competition
Dynamic Events
Acceleration
The Acceleration event has the car drive in a straight line at a distance of 75 meters.
Skid Pad
The Skid Pad event measures the vehicle’s lateral grip on a constant radius turn.
Autocross
Autocross tests the cars dynamic ability in a sprint style course. Two drivers are given two attempts at the course.
Fuel Efficiency
The car’s fuel efficiency is measured during the Endurance event. Fuel usage and lap times are combined to determine the car's efficiency score.
Endurance
The Endurance event is 22 kilometers long driven on a track. Two drivers each drive half of the distance with a mandatory pit stop halfway through.
