A FORMULA FOR REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE

Student engineers soak up the lessons from an army of auto-industry and racing volunteers at Formula SAE Michigan.

On a hazy, cool day in late May, a massive throng of thousands of collegiate engineers and hundreds of volunteers descended on Michigan International Speedway to put the teams' engineering, wrenching and problem-solving skills to the test at Formula SAE Michigan 2023. For newcomers like the team of students from Liberty University, the scope can be overwhelming.

The competition calls for teams of college students to design and build a formula-style racecar. Then they're judged on design, cost, presentation and a series of dynamic events that include acceleration and brake tests, an autocross, and an endurance session.