Race to the Top!

West Virginia University Mountaineer Racing designs and builds highly competitive Formula SAE® race cars while preparing the next generation of transformative engineers and business leaders for the automotive industry and related fields.

Join Mountaineer Racing!

Ryan Bumgarner suited up and ready to race

Testing the aerodynamics of the WVU Formula SAE race car 87 in the A2 Wind Tunnel in Mooresville NC.

About Formula SAE®

The Formula SAE® competition sponsored by SAE International® challenges students from across the globe to design and fabricate Formula-style race cars for the non-professional weekend autocross racing enthusiast and compete in international collegiate racing competitions to determine the best overall design, performance, cost, fuel efficiency, and production feasibility. Formula SAE® promotes careers and excellence in engineering as it encompasses all aspects of the automotive industry including research, design, manufacturing, testing, marketing, management and finance. Competition events include:

Static Events

Engineering Design
Cost and Manufacturing
Business Case Presentation

Dynamic Events

Acceleration
Skid-Pad
Autocross
Fuel Efficiency
Endurance Race

Available Courses

Undergraduate students in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering can receive credit for their Capstone Engineering Design Course and up to 6 hours of technical elective credit toward their degree beginning in their sophomore year. Students majoring in other Engineering disciplines may also receive technical elective course credit for participating in Formula SAE® (subject to departmental approval).

More Information

Volunteers Welcome

Mountaineer Racing recruits team member from across the WVU campus. Formula SAE® is a multi-disciplinary project involving engineering, project management, business, finance, marketing, publicity and outreach. Students from all majors are welcome.

Why join Mountaineer Racing?

Formula SAE® students are hotly recruited by companies in a broad range of industries. Hiring managers look for hands-on experience. They want people who can think on their feet, think creatively, know how to manage, know how to manage their time. Working on the Mountaineer Racing Team will help you build these skills. If you can put Formula SAE® on your resume, it will go to the top of the pile.

Doug Tompkins reinstalls the front wing in the pits at the 2021 FSAE Las Vegas Competition.

Ian Smithson and Logan Horn admire car 87's new bodywork manufactured with the generous support of Aurora Flight Science of Bridgeport WV.

Daniel DuMouchelle, and Tanner Miller and Evan Cole repair the kill switch wire at 2021 Las Vegas competition.

Daniel DuMouchelle, Tanner Miller and Evan Cole repair the kill switch wire at 2021 Las Vegas competition.

Ryan Bumgarner, Doug Tompkins and Dakota Chonko make repairs between events at the FSAE Las Vegas Competition.

Ryan Bumgarner, Doug Tompkins and Dakota Chonko make repairs between events at the FSAE 2021 Las Vegas Competition.

Email for More Information

Featured Links

The Mountaineer Racing Powertrain team Team pose with the 2017 Formula SAE race car and the engine dynamometer built with funds donated by DENSO North America Foundation

WVU Race Team Receives Award from DENSO Foundation

West Virginia University's Mountaineer Racing team recently received a $30,000 award from the DENSO North America Foundation in support the development of an engine dynamometer testing facility. The facility will be used to test and tune the team's racing engines.

Read About This Donation

Mark Ziegler reviews race data with Rooster Hall Racing Driver Johan Schwartz.

Mark Ziegler Will Join Roush Fenway Racing

Upon graduation in December, Mark Ziegler, a mechanical and aerospace engineering major from Glen Allen, Virginia, will officially join the team at Roush Fenway Racing in January 2019, working as an aerodynamics design engineer, working mostly with RFR’s NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series cars.

Read About Mark Ziegler

Evan Cole waits for the start or the endurance race at the 2021 FSAE Competition

Recruiting Students for the 2023 Team. Courses Available.

We are currently recruiting team members. Interested students can sign up for MAE 271 and MAE 371 technical elective courses or the MAE 471 senior capstone course earning credit toward their degree. Contact Dr. Scott Wayne to learn more about these courses. As always, volunteers from all majors are welcome! Join our team and Race to the Top!

Join the Team!

Cameron Sutton exits the dynamics area after successfully completing the 22 km Endurance Race at the 2015 Formula SAE® Michigan Competition flanked by the rest of the WVU team.

Support Mountaineer Racing with a Tax Deductible Donation.

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering is proud to offer students the opportunity to participate in hands-on, experiential learning opportunities through engineering competitions like Formula SAE®. Mountaineer Racing relies heavily on the generous support of alumni and donors to infrastructure improvement, fabrication and travel expenses. Please Donate.

Make a Donation

Design Build Compete

Student Designed - Student Built - Student Driven

Team Member Profile

2018 Suspension Team Member Gabe Ott talks about his experience with the WVU Mountaineer Racing Formula SAE Team and his passion for rally car.

Go Fast! Go First!

Join Mountaineer Racing and launch your engineering career.

Get Involved Today!

WVU and PITT FSAE Teams in the Winner Circle at Michigan International Speedway