Frequently Asked Questions

Name: York Formula Student
Address: WXX3+JW, York

About the Team

What is York Formula Student? - We are the University of York's Formula Student Team, a group of dedicated students working together to design, finance and construct a formula car for the Institute of Mechanical Engineers' Formula Student Competition at Silverstone Circuit.

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.

How does the team fund the car project? - We fund our project through charity donations and sponsorship from companies.

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. Participating universities spend the academic year building a formula car which they bring to Silverstone Circuit in July, aiming to win as many points as possible across the categories upon which the car is judged.
Which events does York Formula Student compete in? - This year we are competing in Formula Student 2027 (July 2027, Silverstone) and the Formula Student Sim Racing Series (7 November 2026 to July 2027).
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 skills. 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 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.

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. 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 skills like technical analysis, design and manufacturing. 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 York Formula Student, you will become a vital part of the process no matter which team you join. Find out more here.

How much time commitment is expected from team members? - Time commitment is dependent on the department and time of the year, however team members usually tend to work for a few hours a week on the project.
Is York Formula Student open to first-year students? - Yes; our team is made up of students from all years of university, including alumni.

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.

Who are the team’s sponsors or partners? - Check our 'Sponsors' page to view all our incredible contributors and sponsors!

What benefits do sponsors receive? - Companies will receive one or several forms of benefits including a place on our car or jersey, a page on our website and/or social media posts about the brand.
What types of sponsorship (financial, material, software) are accepted? - We accept forms of sponsorship including financial contributions, materials, parts, software and services. If you are unsure whether we would accept your form of sponsorship please get in touch.

Where can I follow York Formula Student online? - You can find our socials listed at the top of this webpage. We have Linkedin, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and Tiktok pages.

When are the York Formula Student workshops? - We hold our engineering sessions every Wednesday at 13:30. During these sessions, we collaborate on developing each team's plans for the year and continue with our ongoing tasks in order to further the progress of the car or team. In addition to our engineering sessions, we have social events where you can meet the team and become more involved in the Formula Student experience.

Is the team transitioning to an electric or autonomous car in the future? - We successfully built our first electric race car for Formula Student 2026, and for 2027 we are working on the second iteration of our electric car ready for Silverstone in July.
How does York Formula Student support knowledge transfer between year groups? - We have a structured leadership system, with teams being run by second and third year students, that helps information to be passed down through the years. We also encourage equal opportunities and are proud to have a diverse collection of team members.