A race car driver wearing a helmet with a "VT" logo stands against a clear blue sky. A Michigan International Speedway sign is visible in the background.

Celebrating 35+ Years of Competition

Virginia Tech Motorsports began its journey in SAE competition in 1988 with "Gerty," a  machine powered by a 600cc Kawasaki Ninja engine taken from a member’s motorcycle. That year, a small group of determined students achieved an impressive 10th place, marking the start of a motorsports tradition that would grow into a powerhouse. Three years later, in 1991, we claimed our first Championship, securing our place in SAE history with the car "Foops." From then on, the team consistently delivered, often finishing in the top 10. Highlights include 3rd place in 1992 and multiple top-five finishes over the decades, such as 5th place in 1996 and another 5th in 2017, alongside the strong showing of the electric vehicle at 6th in the same year. In recent years, Virginia Tech Motorsports has continued to excel, with an 8th-place finish in 2023 for the VTM23e in Michigan's electric vehicle category and a design finalist in 2024 with the VTM24c. Throughout this 35-year journey, Virginia Tech has evolved from a small, scrappy group of students to a well-respected team of 60, proving time and again that passion, innovation, and hard work can turn humble beginnings into world-class feats.

The Formula SAE Competition

A group of people standing around a small race car labeled 208 at Michigan International Speedway, with a sign overhead saying 'Thank You for Visiting.'

The Formula SAE competition is designed to challenge undergraduate students to design, manufacture and race a small formula-style racecar. The rules allow for as much innovation as possible. This lets teams create unique suspension, powertrain and aerodynamic designs. The process takes around 8 months from start to finish, and requires extensive planning and coordination between roughly 60 interdisciplinary team members to produce a final product.

Tech Inspection

A red formula-style racing car with sponsorship logos, including "General Dynamics" and "Virginia Tech," is being inspected by a group of people. The vehicle is parked on a wet surface, reflecting the car and individuals. The sky is cloudy, and a metal frame structure is present beside the car.

Design: (150 pts) Team members present their designs to expert judges from the automotive and motorsport industry. Team members are required to support every design decision that is made on the car, from finite element analysis to steering wheel ergonomics.
Cost: (100 pts) The team must calculate the cost of everything on the car. Every nut, bolt, and weld bead must be accounted for. Team members are judged on the accuracy of the cost per a 1000 unit production of the car.
Presentation: (75 pts) The objective is to present a comprehensive business case to persuade a fictional manufacturing firm that the team's design is superior to competitors and best meets the demand for an amateur weekend competition racer.

Dynamic Events

A person driving a small, red Formula-style race car on an asphalt track, with motion blur indicating speed.

At every competition our car must undergo tech inspection. This process makes sure that our car is rules compliant and safe to compete. There are generally two stages, mechanical and dynamic. our electric cars must also pass a rain test. Mechanical inspection is the comprehensive review of physical systems and components. Dynamic inspection insures the car will operate safley in real world conditions.

Static Events

Group of people working on a Formula SAE care in a garage, with a shark mouth design on the car's front.

Acceleration: (100 pts) The car accelerates from a stop over a 75 m distance. Scoring is based on timing.
Autocross: (125 pts) One lap shootout on a tight, handling based course. The resulting times determine the starting order for Endurance.
Skid-Pad: (75 pts) Measures the car's cornering ability on a constant radius turn. The course is two circles making a figure 8. Results are based on the best time around one circle.
Endurance: (275 pts) 22km long race to determine the durability of each car. A driver change occurs after 11 km, and the fuel efficiency of each car is calculated at the end of the event.