More grit, more brains, more thrill: Why Formula Student beats pro racing

Imagine asking someone what they studied and they replied: “I’ve built and raced electric, autonomous race cars all over the world.” Pretty cool, right? Last week, students from across the globe showcased their self-developed racing cars at the Hockenheimring in Germany. More than 80 teams from over 25 countries went head-to-head.

All cars are electric, and some disciplines even require them to drive completely on their own, guided entirely by custom-built software.

Teams compete across seven disciplines. On the track, performance is tested in Acceleration, Autocross, Skidpad and Endurance. Success here demands not only driving skill, but also engineering excellence in both hardware and software. Off the track, the Cost Report, Business Plan, and Engineering Design categories test the ability to pitch ideas, manage budgets, and showcase technical innovation.

More than sponsorship

HERE is a proud sponsor of Ecurie Aix, the team from RWTH Aachen University — and they delivered an incredible performance at this year’s Hockenheim finals!

🥇 1st place in the Skidpad

🥇 1st place time in Autocross

🥇 1st place in “Crazy20” anniversary special

🥈 2^nd place in MathWorks Special Award

🥈 2^nd place in overall scoring results

⚡ Strong result in Driverless Acceleration

🎯 Finalists in both Engineering Design and Cost Report categories.

But what truly sets Ecurie Aix apart isn’t just their results. Their professionalism, dedication, and relentless motivation are inspiring us — and their skills put them in a league of their own.

And what makes Formula Student so remarkable isn’t outpacing F1 or endurance racing, but the different kind of challenge it poses: students must code their own electric and driverless systems from scratch, build cars on limited budgets, and juggle the demands of business planning alongside engineering breakthroughs.

“Ultimately, this competition is about testing the limits of engineering. We will always give our best — and if something doesn’t work today, we will make it work tomorrow”, said Jonas Lemmen, Group Leader Driverless Software.

Victory here isn’t measured in lap records alone — it’s forged in sleepless nights debugging algorithms, squeezing efficiency out of every line of code, and keeping a passion-fueled team moving forward despite setbacks. That’s where Formula Student truly shines: by cultivating the grit, ingenuity, and coding talent that power the engineers of tomorrow.

A look under the hood

The team’s latest race car, the EAX03 nicknamed "Marion", combines manual and autonomous capability with lightweight design, cutting-edge aerodynamics, and an efficiency-driven powertrain and electrical system. Highlights include:

• Sensor-rich autonomous setup:

  Two cameras and a LiDAR feed into an in-house ECU that controls both the vehicle and power distribution systems. Over 20 sensors are connected via a slimmed-down wiring harness and decentralized CAN system.

• High-Voltage Electric System:

  A 600 V traction battery (6.8 kWh) powers wheel-hub motors delivering up to 80 kW total — with a single motor outputting up to 35 kW.

• Optimized Powertrain & Wheels:

  Lightweight aluminum uprights, carbon rims for improved tire performance, and custom sealing plus transmission oil-flow improvements — unique efficiency upgrades in Formula Student.

If you’d like to see the team and their car back in action, check out next season’s competitions. Until then, we wish them a well-deserved off-season!