Members of Purdue Formula SAE in front of the car they designed and built for the 2024 national competition

Formula SAE, an internationally recognized collegiate design competition, is a high-octane event where engineering excellence meets the thrill of the race track. Every year, members of Purdue Formula SAE design and build an open-wheel formula-style race car to compete at the national level.

Jihong Min is a sophomore majoring in computer engineering at Purdue and an active member of the Formula SAE team. He says the journey begins long before the race cars hit the track.

“The process is a delicate balancing act between cost efficiency, performance optimization, and safety,” says Min. "The car must excel in all factors, from reliability and speed to generating enough grip to tackle corners without oversteering or understeering."

Achieving this balance requires meticulous planning and collaboration among team members. Weekly meetings are dedicated to discussing engineering decisions, with each subteam contributing to the overall design. Min says it's a finely orchestrated process where everyone's input matters. He says the hands-on experience extends beyond the design phase, with rigorous testing leading up to the Formula SAE competition. Min focuses on electrical systems -- designing circuit boards and integrating them seamlessly into the car's architecture.

"Testing starts with firing up the car for the first time followed by a series of checks to ensure every component performs flawlessly," says Min. "It's not just about building a car, but also about forging connections and gaining real-world engineering experience."

Min says it’s great to be able to pursue his passion and gain experience while still an undergrad.

"It's like living my dream job, except I'm still in college," he says. “The organization has reinforced my love of engineering and provided a platform to explore my interests in automotive electronics and motorsports.

Members of Purdue Formula SAE on the track at the Formula Michigan May 2024 competition

At the Formula Michigan May 2024 competition, the team was successful, placing 8^th overall out of more than 100 competitors. This marks the fourth year in a row that Purdue Formula SAE has placed top 10 in competition. The road there, however, was not always smooth- the car suffered an engine failure six weeks prior to the competition and the team had to quickly find a replacement for the engine and get the car up and running again. Despite all the obstacles that arose, the car performed well, and the team brought home a first-place trophy in the skid pad event. These accomplishments have raised team spirit and provided further motivation for an even better finish in the upcoming season.