Students from the University of York are set to make their racing debut this summer at the prestigious Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire. The team will compete in the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Formula Student competition, which takes place from 15-20 July 2026.
The York Formula Student team, founded in 2022, will be racing a fully electric vehicle in the Class 1 category. The team comprises over 50 students from various disciplines, including engineering, business, and driver roles, all operating out of the university’s Church Lane Building.
To prepare for their first appearance at the iconic circuit, the York team received technical assistance from the Warwick University Formula Student team, who provided the car’s battery and other essential components. The project is supported by the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology at the University of York, with additional funding provided by YorkSU Grant and YuFund. The team has also secured sponsorship from industry partners, including the engineering company Accu.
Tom Comrie, a final year Computer Science student and the team’s principal, noted that the transition to a fully electric vehicle marks a major milestone for the group. As they head to the competition, the students will go wheel-to-wheel with more than 100 university teams from across the globe at Silverstone Circuit, a venue that has hosted the event since 2007.
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