Est. 1991
Our Story
Over three decades of building race cars, building engineers, and chasing podiums on three continents.
The Beginning
Born in the Shop
RIT Racing has its roots in the SAE Collegiate Design Series dating back to 1986. In 1991, the team made the switch to the newly emerging Formula SAE program — building F0, a steel spaceframe car powered by a Honda CBR600F engine, and proving that RIT students could build a real race car from scratch.
From that first prototype, we've never stopped. Every year, a new generation of engineers inherits the knowledge of the last, pushes the design further, and puts it to the test on track at competitions across North America, Europe, and Australia.
1991
Year Founded
33+
Cars Built
3
Continents Competed
30+
Active Members
1st
Michigan 2024
What We Do
Design. Build. Race.
Every year, the team takes on the full engineering challenge from the ground up — designing suspension geometry, building carbon fiber body panels, writing embedded firmware, fabricating titanium hardware, and tuning the car right up until it rolls into the competition paddock.
We compete in the SAE Collegiate Design Series Formula SAE program, which challenges university teams to design, build, test, and race a small formula car. Judging covers static events (design, cost, business presentation) and dynamic events (acceleration, skidpad, autocross, and endurance).
Milestones
A History of Excellence
1991
First FSAE Car
F0 — the steel spaceframe prototype that started everything. Awarded Rookie of the Year in 1993.
1996
Top 2 at Michigan
F4 secured 1st in Acceleration, 1st in Autocross, and 2nd Overall at Detroit.
1999
FSUK Champions
F7 won 1st Overall at the inaugural Formula Student UK event — and 1st in Design and Acceleration.
2001
Australian Victory
F9 climbed to 1st Overall at FSAE Australasia — a dominant performance on three continents.
2009
Back on Top
F17 took 1st at FSAE California and 2nd at Michigan — one of the most successful cars in team history.
2019
Electric Transition
F27 closes the combustion era; the full focus shifts to electric Formula SAE.
2024
Michigan Champions
F32 wins 1st Place Overall at FSAE Michigan — the first Michigan win in team history.
2025
Hub Motor Era
F33 debuts hub motors — winning 1st Overall at both FSAE Pittsburgh and Toronto, plus 8th at Michigan. A dominant debut for a new drivetrain architecture.
The Electric Era
All In on Electric
In 2016, RIT Racing began building electric cars alongside its combustion program. By 2019, with F27's final combustion season complete, the team made a full commitment to electric Formula SAE — a decision that would culminate in a national championship just five years later.
Today, RIT Racing operates exclusively in Formula SAE Electric, pushing the boundaries of battery technology, motor control, and vehicle dynamics in pursuit of the fastest lap time possible.
See Our Electric Cars