Formula SAE

The Formula SAE competition is an opportunity for SAE student members to conceive, design, fabricate, and compete with small formula-style racing cars. This event, which started in 1981 as a Texas State University competition, has been picked up by SAE and grown into a full-blown international competition. Currently, there are three domestic competitions, and four international competitions.

Professional engineers and racers score the entries at the competition. Famous automotive engineers such as Williams Renault Chief Design Engineer, Patrick Head, are also known to participate in the judging. Points are awarded in categories such as engineering design, cost analysis, oral marketing presentation and high-performance dynamic track events including acceleration, skid pad, autocross and endurance.

Cal Poly Pomona Formula Racing

The Cal Poly Formula Racing team is aimed at engineering students interested in the automotive industry. This competition enables students to gain hands-on experience. The real world management, leadership, and design skills learned through these competitions cannot be gained from the classroom. This program brings out the true sense of what polytechnic means.

The Cal Poly Pomona Formula Racing Team brings together students from all across the campus. Primarily mechanical engineering students make up the team, with electrical, aerospace and engineering technology engineers complimenting. Rounding out our team are public relations, business and accounting majors.

Our Success

Cal Poly Pomona has historically been one of the top Formula SAE teams in California. Cal Poly Pomona received tenth and ninth place honors in 1995 and 1996, respectively, as well as the Spirit of Excellence Trophy. In 2000, Cal Poly Pomona finished strongly with a third place finish in Detroit, and a first place finish at Formula Student in England. In 2007 Cal Poly Pomona ambitiously competed in three events, Detroit, California, and Italy placing 38th 11th and 5th respectively.

Cal Poly Pomona has also demonstrated its engineering prowess on a professional level. In 2000 we were the first California team to compete in the SCCA Nationals in Topeka, Kansas. We raced against professionally engineered cars in the A-mod class of Solo 2 autocross. While these top cars had budgets in excess of a quarter million dollars, the Cal Poly Pomona Formula car was able to record fifth and sixth, while out performing other college participants.