2026-06-11 09:42
In September, students at John von Neumann University in Kecskemét embarked on an exciting project. They set out to design and then build a Formula-style race car. The Neumann Formula Student Team unveiled the fantastic race car on the evening of May 27, 2026, on the CAMPUS rooftop terrace.
The Neumann Formula Student Team was founded about a year ago at John von Neumann University in Kecskemét. The brainchild of this community of 60 students is a Formula-style race car, which they will use to compete in an international engineering competition series called Formula Student.
The Neumann Formula Student Team’s race car
Team captain Bence Olivér Fodor explained that their car has a top speed of 180 kilometers per hour, but since handling is what matters most, the design required a tremendous amount of engineering expertise.
- Key specifications of the race car:
- Engine: Yamaha R6 (2004)
- Power: ~90 hp
- Wheelbase: 1600 mm
- Weight: 250 kg
- Frame: space-frame
- Body: carbon fiber composite
The electronics are controlled by a MoTeC M800 engine management system, which includes a custom-designed wiring harness. The race car itself is a prototype vehicle developed entirely in-house.
Building a race car like this represents the pinnacle of the university’s expertise
At the ceremony held to unveil the car, the university’s rector, Dr. habil. Tamás Fülöp, said he was deeply moved to be able to join others in recognizing and admiring the value-creating work of the university’s students.
The rector emphasized that designing such a car from scratch and then building it is a huge challenge.
“This represents the pinnacle of the knowledge that a university with technical, engineering, and business programs can possess,” said Rector Dr. habil. Tamás Fülöp.
Heading to the Red Bull Ring and the Hungaroring
The Kecskemét team built the internal combustion race car with a clear goal in mind: the Formula Student competition. The Neumann Formula Student Team successfully qualified for the international engineering competition series, and the students were able to decide for themselves which races they would participate in.
The students from Kecskemét will compete in three races:
- at the ZalaZONE track in Zalaegerszeg at the end of June,
- at the Red Bull Ring in Austria at the end of July,
- and at the Hungaroring at the end of August.
College students will take on the role of drivers
The five-day competition consists of two main parts: static and dynamic events. During the static portion, the students must showcase their car and present its design, construction, and budget. Before taking the car out onto the track, experts and race engineers inspect the car, performing tests such as sound pressure measurements and brake tests.
Next comes the dynamic portion, during which technical and acceleration tasks must be completed, followed by the weekend’s main event: the 22-kilometer race. This isn’t a traditional head-to-head race for college students, so don’t picture a typical Formula race; instead, the cars are released onto the track at specific intervals, and the team that completes the distance the fastest is the winner. The car isn’t driven by a professional driver, but rather by 3–4 enterprising students selected from the university student body.
Regarding the competition goals, Bence Olivér Fodor emphasized that their main plan is to complete every event in every race, and they are confident that they will achieve the best possible results, representing their university, Kecskemét, and our country.
Source: Baon.hu
