Photos courtesy of K-State
As moviegoers rush to see the summer blockbuster F1, few will ever experience the thrill of driving a real Formula One-style car. But Kansas State University students get that chance through Powercat Motorsports, the university’s Formula SAE team, which recently earned a top-five finish at an international competition.
Formula SAE is the world’s premier student engineering design contest, with more than 700 teams competing globally. Powercat Motorsports has represented K-State since 1997, designing, building, and racing a fully functional, open-wheel racecar each year.
At this year’s Formula SAE Michigan competition, K-State placed fourth out of 107 teams—its best finish in more than 25 years. The team topped all nine Big 12 schools, with standout performances in both dynamic and static events. Drivers earned third place in the endurance race, while the business presentation team placed third for the first time ever.
Advised by professors Hosein Baboly and Kevin Wanklyn, the team continues to provide students with hands-on experience in engineering, teamwork, and innovation.
