Hands-On Learning Fuels Virginia Tech’s Formula SAE Team
Virginia Tech’s Formula SAE team blends engineering and business to build and race formula style cars.
Blacksburg, VA , Sept. 9 2025 - Test Night: Harrison Bruhl sits in 2025 VTM electric car.
Photo: Nick Carlson
Nick Carlson - 10/9/2024
For over 36 years Virginia Tech Motorsports Formula SAE (VTM) has been engineering more than just race cars. It’s been forming the next generation of engineers and leaders. The student-run engineering senior design team manufactures and races small formula-style cars. The competition tests all aspects of their skill, designs and teamwork.
“We have top-notch facilities here at Virginia Tech," said Dr. Richard Clark, faculty advisor. “It couldn't be a better environment from a manufacturing standpoint, what we have is by far superior to many other things I've seen at many other institutions.”
This year, the team has an ambitious goal of building two competition cars, one traditional combustion, the other an electric vehicle. Clark encouraged the team to focus on one competition car and have the other be in a development year.
“We could probably build one car sooner, test it sooner and work out bugs sooner” said Clark.
Despite his advice, the team is pressing full steam ahead, pushing both cars towards competition.
After finishing 15th overall in last year's competition, VTM has the momentum and determination to place in the top 10 this year, but improvements still need to be made. Clark believes that improving driver performance can take the team to the next level.
“We did well last year at the national competition because we had a really good car and a lot of seat time for those two main drivers,” Clark said. “We don’t have that this year and that's a huge disadvantage for us. Performance-wise the car itself still needs incremental improvements, but I think the biggest change is going to be in the driver.”
Abdul Hussein, suspension team lead, is one of several subteam working to refine designs to gain performance. He also oversees manufacturing for the team.
“It’s a privilege to be able to make our own parts in-house,” Hussein said. “Our team members are able to follow the entire engineering design process, from defining the problem to computer work, CAD and FEA, all the way up to manufacturing.”
The Formula SAE competition is not only about speed. There is also a business component that tests budgeting and project management skills. Every point VTM can earn matters, and the top-performing teams put as much emphasis on the static events as they do the racing.
“There's a static side of competition, a business presentation and a cost report,” said Daneil Catlett, business subteam lead. “Our team tracks all of our costs, manufacturing times and labor hours, to make the cost report as efficient as possible and earn points at competition. We also give a presentation on a cost scenario — last year’s asked how we could manufacture our car on a larger scale for a formula series.”
Beyond competition, the Virginia Tech Formula SAE team teaches team members skills they’ll use in their careers.
“Working in a high-pressure environment is a really big skill people walk away with, as well as learning how to function within a team,” said Catlett. “You learn how to balance school, deadlines, delegation, and when to ask for help, skills you just don’t get anywhere else.”
