BEng (Hons) Automotive and Motorsport Engineering and BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering students have spent the past year designing, manufacturing and testing a single-seat racing car from scratch for the Formula Student 2026 competition.
Held at Silverstone, the annual competition brings together university teams from around the world to showcase their engineering, design, manufacturing and business skills.
University of Staffordshire not only placed fourth overall, but also achieved the distinction of being the highest-scoring internal combustion (IC) car in the entire competition.
Team leader Nikita Dookhy said: "The team had an amazing time competing with other universities and seeing how teams differ in their design and manufacturing of their cars. A stand-out achievement was reaching the finals of the Cost & Manufacturing static event, which was a first in Staffs Uni Racing history.
"It was also a great opportunity for our team members to network with major companies such as Haas F1 and Babcock International. Overall, we had an awesome time at the competition, and we are so proud of the results we achieved, being the top Internal Combustion Team."
The team also excelled in the Endurance Event – regarded as the ultimate test of both car reliability and team performance.
Of the more than 100 teams that attended the competition, only 23 qualified for the demanding 27-lap endurance race, with just nine cars reaching the finish line.
University of Staffordshire completed the event in third place, extending an impressive record of completing every dynamic event at Formula Student for six consecutive years.
Technical Specialist Martin Dunn has been a driving force behind University of Staffordshire’s continued success at the Formula Student competition and supports students throughout the process. He said: "Finishing fourth is a fantastic achievement, given the increased number of highly competitive international teams.
"We have always taken great pride in completing every dynamic event at Formula Student, and this year was no exception. This consistency, along with our success in other areas of the competition, makes us one of – if not the – most successful UK teams in Formula Student history."
Discover more about studying at University of Staffordshire by booking your place at an Open Day or apply now through Clearing for a September start.