In July of this year, the Edinburgh University Formula Student (EUFS) is set to take part in the Formula Student UK competition (FSUK2026). FSUK2026 tasks teams to design a single-seater race car, which will compete against over 100 other university teams.
The vehicle put forward is named SISU206D, to which when asked about the inspiration behind the name, EUFS President Aliya Mosha shared: “At EUFS, we name our cars SISU in memory of Lauri, a former member of EUFS who sadly passed away a few years ago. Lauri was Finnish and SISU is a Finnish word that translates to grit, resilience and bravery in the face of overwhelming adversity.”
EUFS has been aiming towards building an Autonomous Driving System (ADS) and would be the first UK team to do so. The development towards creating an ADS vehicle has spanned multiple years and even survived membership turnover and resource constraints. Initially, the process started with developing software, running simulations, and using the FS-AI tool for experience. With FSUK2026 fast approaching, the team is shifting to working on full-system integration which would combine all mechanical, electrical and software aspects. Fielding an ADS car at the FSUK2026 would mean that EUFS no longer has to rely on a standardised platform program, which would hopefully help them in retaining the FS-AI title for a ninth consecutive year.
Additionally, successfully creating an ADS is not the end-goal of EUFS; instead, once the ADS becomes their primary car for competitions, focus will shift to a new design phase. This is simply another manifestation of the relentless nature of the motorsport world which has constant pressure to create new designs and innovations. Ultimately, a major milestone for EUFS would be attending FS Germany and bringing their accomplishments to an international stage.
These accomplishments are not solely about the mechanical aspect of racing; Formula Student combines the engineering of a car with other aspects of the racing world such as business presentations and sponsorship deals. Being the first UK team with an ADS car would majorly strengthen their position among sponsors and raise awareness of the team.
Achieving this would be a huge testament to the many people working hard across the five departments – mechanical, electrical, software, statics, and operations – at EUFS. Mosha highlights how imperative collaboration between departments is throughout the integration process and the necessary overlap of commercial and technical teams.
“Pre Race Karting Area/Starting Area” by Pam Brophy is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.