Driving Towards Success: Mississippi State’s Formula SAE Team Aims to Build on Record-Breaking Performance

For the Mississippi State University Formula SAE team, the 2023-2024 competition season marked a significant achievement. After years of consistent progress, the team achieved its best-ever finish, placing 17th out of 120 teams—a remarkable accomplishment that leaves the team eager to build on its success.

"We couldn't believe it when we saw the scores," recalled Jacob Bosarge, the team's current lead. "We were expecting maybe a top 20 or 30 finish, but 17^th was incredible. We put in so much work, and seeing it pay off like that was amazing."

The Formula SAE competition challenges students to design, build, and race small, formula-style race cars. Bosarge explained that the competition also provides invaluable real-world engineering experience, preparing students for careers after graduation. Participants gain hands-on skills in design, fabrication, project management, budgeting, and teamwork - skills that are all critical for employers. The competition simulates the challenges of working in the automotive industry, from meeting tight deadlines to troubleshooting issues on complex vehicles. Students also develop essential soft skills such as communication, leadership, and problem-solving.

Teams are evaluated on static events, such as design, cost, and business presentations, and dynamic events that test the car's performance on the track.

"It's really broken down into two main parts," Bosarge explains. "You have your static events, where you present the entire car to judges, and then your dynamic events, which are all the on-track competitions."

Mississippi State's strong showing in 2024 was fueled by a relentless focus on improving the car's efficiency. Bosarge explained that the team's one-cylinder engine may not have the raw power of its four-cylinder competitors, but he and his teammates have honed their strategy of building the lightest, most nimble car possible.

"Our philosophy is that we'll never beat those four-cylinder teams in straight-line acceleration, so we have to make up for it in the corners," Bosarge said. "Last year, our car weighed in at about 420 pounds, which was pretty good for a one-cylinder team. But this year, our goal is to get it under 400 pounds."

Shedding weight is just one area the team wants to improve. Bosarge mentioned they are also determined to strengthen the squad's performance in the static events. He explained that while they had a strong entry last year, they struggled to present the car and technical aspects of the build in a way that impressed the judges. This year, they plan to put a bigger emphasis on documentation and data and ensuring their designs are well-executed and well-justified.

That attention to detail extends beyond the car's technical aspects. As team lead, Bosarge has also strengthened the squad's organizational structure and communication, drawing on his teammates' diverse backgrounds.

"We have engineers, of course, but also business students, communications majors, even an architecture major," he says. "It's a really unique group, and learning how to bridge those different skill sets has been a valuable experience."

Bosarge emphasized that the team’s success relies heavily on donations to fund the development of their race car each year. Major sponsors like Ronnie and Joy Martin, Yokohama, the Bagley College of Engineering and the university's mechanical engineering department provide significant financial support. These sponsors are crucial, as the materials and components needed to build a competitive car can be extremely expensive.

Bosarge and his teammates are eager to build on their breakthrough performance. They know there will be challenges ahead, but the chance to push the limits of engineering and compete against the best in the country is a challenge they're more than ready to embrace.

"It's stressful but also incredibly rewarding," Bosarge reflects. "When you put in all that work and see it pay off on the track, there's nothing else like it. We're excited to see what we can accomplish this year."

By Camille Carskadon