“We have a pretty proud history here at MSU Formula Racing. We’re a perennial Top 10 team,” says Christopher McCloskey, a mechanical engineering senior on Michigan State University’s Formula Racing Team, now in its 30th year.
The team competes in Formula SAE competitions organized by the professional engineering association SAE International. University students around the world plan, design, build and compete with small, formula-style vehicles — testing their engineering skills and creative problem-solving.
Their current car is one of the fastest in team history. But speed isn’t the only important factor.
“We take great pride in how high we place in design each year, which is really not only the car you build and how fast it is, but also how well you back up those designs with engineering principles,” says McCloskey.
Another win for formula racing students: automotive companies consistently hire alumni of the program.
“My team members are recruited just like athletes,” says Gary Cloud, the team’s faculty adviser and University Distinguished Professor Emeritus.
Many students on the formula racing team secure full-time job offers as early as their junior year.
As Spartan engineers are taught to do, the team always looks for the next challenge.
“We want to push this team further and further and go faster each and every day,” says McCloskey.
Their current car is one of the fastest in team history. But speed isn’t the only important factor.
“We take great pride in how high we place in design each year, which is really not only the car you build and how fast it is, but also how well you back up those designs with engineering principles,” says McCloskey.
Another win for formula racing students: automotive companies consistently hire alumni of the program.
“My team members are recruited just like athletes,” says Gary Cloud, the team’s faculty adviser and University Distinguished Professor Emeritus.
Many students on the formula racing team secure full-time job offers as early as their junior year.
As Spartan engineers are taught to do, the team always looks for the next challenge.
“We want to push this team further and further and go faster each and every day,” says McCloskey.
