Frequently Asked Questions
About the Team
- What is York Formula Student? - We are the University of York's Formula Student Team, and we invite you to join us in an incredible journey towards engineering excellence. As we gear up to compete in the prestigious Institute of Mechanical Engineer's Formula Student Competition at Silverstone Circuit, we are looking for passionate individuals to join our team and contribute to our success.
- When was the York Formula Student team founded? - The team was founded in 2022. As we are a new team, we are still building on our foundations, however we aim to have a car ready to race at Silverstone in July.
- Who can join York Formula Student? - Any student at the University of York is welcome to join our team. If you have a passion for motorsport and are looking to boost your CV, this is a perfect opportunity for you!
- How many members are on the team? - We have over 50 hard-working students within the team spread across our engineering, business and driver teams.
- Who are the team’s sponsors or partners? - Check our 'Sponsors' page to view all our incredible contributors and sponsors!
- How does the team fund the car project? - We fund our project through charity donations and sponsorship from companies.
Competition
- What is Formula Student, and how does it work? - Formula Student is Europe's most established educational engineering competition, utilising the world of motorsport to inspire and challenge students. It is a platform for the brightest minds to showcase their engineering knowledge, test their capabilities, and deliver a complex and integrated product in the high-pressure environment of a motorsport competition.
- Which events does York Formula Student compete in? - This year we are competing in the FS2026 (July 2026, Silverstone) and the FS Sim Racing Series (1st November 2025 - 20 July 2026).
- How is the competition judged? - Formula Student is judged through a combination of static and dynamic events, which assess a team's vehicle and their overall engineering, cost, and business acumen. Static events judge the car's design, cost, business plan, and adherence to technical and safety rules, while dynamic events test the car's performance on the track in areas like acceleration, endurance, and sprint events. The total score is a combination of points from all events, with dynamic events typically weighted more heavily.
- What are some of the team’s past competition results or achievements? - 3rd Place at FS Sim Series 2024
- What’s the timeline for building and testing the car before competition? - Our projects start at the beginning of the first semester. As competition comes closer, we begin to ramp up development of the car, ready for Silverstone in July. fund our project through charity donations and sponsorship from companies.
Student Involvement
- How can I join York Formula Student as a student? - Find us at the Freshers’ Fair at the start of the year to find out more about the team and receive our google form link to register interest. If you would like to join later in the year or can’t attend the fair, feel free to contact us on our socials or via our email formulastudent@yorksu.org to notify us of your interest in joining the team.
- Do I need prior engineering experience to join? - No, as long as you have a passion for motorsport and are willing to learn on the job, York Formula Student is for you.
- What kind of skills can I learn from participating? - As participants in Formula Student, you will gain invaluable hands-on experience in technical analysis, engineering design, manufacturing, and more. You will learn crucial skills in teamwork, time management, project management, budgeting, and presenting, all within the context of developing a race car. This experience equips students with the skills that prospective employers seek, setting them on a path towards a successful engineering career.
- What roles are available? - By joining our engineering team, you will become a vital part of this manufacturing process. Our engineering team will be working on crucial aspects of the car, such as CAD, CAM, welding, and simulation. You will have the opportunity to learn these skills, and many more, from experienced team members. Our marketing team will be responsible for expanding our team's social presence, interacting with sponsors, creating engaging social media content, and connecting with other teams and businesses in the motorsport industry. This experience will not only develop your marketing skills but also provide you with valuable networking opportunities. For those interested in joining our drivers' team, you will be involved in testing the car throughout the manufacturing process. You will receive training with our team kit and have the chance to compete in our inter-university sim-racing series. As we approach the competition at Silverstone, you will also have the opportunity to practice driving the car, honing your skills and preparing for the thrilling race.
- How much time commitment is expected from team members? - Time commitment is dependent on department and time of the year, however team members usually tend to work for a couple hours a week on the project on average.
- Is York Formula Student open to first-year students? - Yes; our team is made up of students from all years of university, including alumni.
Sponsorships and Partnerships
- How can a company sponsor York Formula Student? - Please fill in our contact form to enquire about becoming a sponsor. This can be found on our sponsorship page.
- What benefits do sponsors receive? - Companies will receive sponsorship print on our jersey, car and posts on our social feeds. Companies will also be invited to attend a car launch at the end of the academic year, in York. Here, sponsors will be able to meet the team and see the car in-person.
- What types of sponsorship (financial, material, software) are accepted? - We usually only accept financial sponsorship unless arranged otherwise with the team.
Media and Outreach
- Where can I follow York Formula Student online? - You can find our socials listed at the bottom of this webpage. We have a Linkedin, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and a Tiktok page.
- When are the York Formula Student workshops? - We hold our engineering sessions every Wednesday at 13:00. During these sessions, we collaborate on developing the car and plan out the manufacturing process leading up to September. In addition to our engineering sessions, we have weekly social events where you can meet the team, connect with like-minded individuals, and become more involved in the Formula Student experience.
Future Plans
- Is the team transitioning to an electric or autonomous car in the future? - Our journey to victory begins with the manufacturing of our Electric Race Car this September. We are committed to developing a cutting-edge, electric vehicle that will outperform the competition. If all goes well, we aim to race with a fully-fledged car at Silverstone in July.
- How does York Formula Student support knowledge transfer between year groups? - We have a structured leadership system, that helps for information to be passed down through the years. We also encourage equal opportunities and are proud to have a diverse collection of team members.
- Who are the team’s sponsors or partners? - Check our 'Sponsors' page to view all our incredible contributors and sponsors!
- How does the team fund the car project? - We fund our project through charity donations and sponsorship from companies.
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