Two weeks ago, University of Arizona student Makena Wheeler and her friends loaded a hand-built racecar into a trailer and drove for three days to Brooklyn, Michigan. Their destination: the 2025 Formula SAE competition, one of the premier collegiate engineering contests in the country. 

A junior studying aerospace engineering in the College of Engineering, Wheeler recently finished her second year with Wildcat Formula Racing, a student club that designs, fabricates and builds a formula-style racecar every year. Formula-style vehicles have three design requirements: open wheels, an open cockpit and a single seat. An open wheel is exposed without a cover, while an open cockpit has no roof or windshield. 

For Wheeler and the rest of the Wildcat Formula Racing club, competing in Michigan against other student groups was the perfect end to a year spent designing, fabricating and testing – and a testament to what a group of students can accomplish when they oversee a project from the first weld to the final lap. 

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Wildcat Formula Racing finished 81st out of 144 teams at this year's competition, a result Wheeler described as impressive considering the club has not qualified for competition since 2021.  

"Our car performed quite admirably," Wheeler said. "And the competition takes place at Michigan International Speedway, so we spent our time working and walking around an actual racetrack. That was really cool. We did have a few maintenance issues with the car, which is tough, but we're all engineers, so you could say we were the best people to deal with those problems. We also brought a lot of next year's club officers with us so they could get a feel for the competition and see what work needs to be done to make us more competitive. Everyone is really energized and excited about next year." 

From design to deadline 

The Wildcat Formula Racing club begins its season every August by recruiting new team members and starting the design phase. The car is designed in the fall, assembled in the spring and competes in the summer. After competition, club leadership meet to analyze the results and prepare feedback for the next vehicle. The club consists of administrative positions as well as officers who lead development teams in aerodynamics, design, drive and powertrain, suspension, electronics, frame and welding. 

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Wheeler leads the club's frame team. 

"We are responsible for the design, testing and manufacturing of the frame, also known as a chassis. Basically, the skeleton of the car," she said. "We want to optimize the frame to be as light as possible, and to allow easy integration of other parts of the car. We also have to think about the cockpit area, and how the driver is actually going to fit into our car. We work a lot with the other sub-teams, because we're in charge of holding it all together." 

Wheeler and the frame team start their work with computer-aided design programs to create a new frame based on last year's results and any unfinished projects. Once the design is finalized, the team works with local distributors and suppliers to acquire the materials needed to build a car from scratch.  

Ella Westhora, a  biomedical engineering student, joined the club this year and soaked up all the information she could. 

As a new member, Westhora was introduced to the club's different teams and ultimately decided to work on cockpit, controls, safety and brakes because of how the work integrates with her studies. 

"You have to design a car that is not only going to drive, but you also have to integrate a human being into that design," Westhora said. "We have to create a design that aids the driver while also being very compact and functional because we want to make sure the driver is comfortable and in a safe position to focus on the race." 

Westhora is excited to start her sophomore year at the U of A and her second year with Wildcat Formula Racing – this time as an officer. Next year, she will lead the cockpit, controls, safety and brakes team.  

More than mechanics 

Any member of Wildcat Formula Racing is quick to explain the benefits of connecting engineering coursework to the design and development of a real racecar. But according to Jeffrey Jacobs, the group's faculty adviser, the rewards extend well beyond the technical. 

"One of the primary functions of any student club is to get students engaged with the university, even if that has nothing to do with what they learn in their classes," said Jacobs, the Elwin G. Wood Distinguished Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering. "It's all about making friends and enjoying the camaraderie – and we know that experience can be especially helpful for engineering students, because it's a very difficult curriculum." 

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In addition to providing engineering advice to the group, Jacobs oversees and approves Wildcat Formula Racing's purchases and spending. The group is registered under the Associated Students of the University of Arizona and receives financial support from ASUA, the College of Engineering and the college's student council. 

While Jacobs highlighted the importance of personal connection and support, David W. Hahn, Craig M. Berge Dean of the College of Engineering, said he sees the club as a powerful bridge between theory and practice that enhances both academic learning and student engagement. 

"The SAE Formula team experience embodies the hands-on learning we value for our engineering students, while the competition also places a premium on design and analysis, further reinforcing classroom learning," Hahn said. "It's always exciting to see the students at the competition, where all their teamwork comes together."