Formula Student UPV wins for second consecutive year the most prestigious university automotive competition in the world
The team Formula Student of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) has revalidated its international title in Formula SAE Michigan thanks to the victory achieved in the 2026 edition of this prestigious competition held at the Michigan International Speedway (USA).
The victory consolidates the UPV as a world reference in university engineering and student car racing, after becoming also in 2025 the first Spanish university to conquer this international event in the combustion category.
The Valencian team, integrated in the Spontaneous Generation project of the UPV, competed against 120 universities from all over the world, being also the only Spanish representative present in this edition. Among the participants were some of the most prestigious institutions from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Italy and Brazil.
The single-seater developed by the Spontaneous Generation team has excelled in both static tests – focused on engineering design, costs and project presentation – and dynamic tests, where teams test the performance, acceleration, endurance and efficiency of their vehicles.
This year’s prototype, the twelfth built by the team, incorporates a carbon fiber monocoque chassis, a new aerodynamic package developed entirely by the student body and a single-cylinder KTM 690 engine, one of the main technical innovations of this edition.
The expedition to the United States was led by Dani Castiella, Carlos Marco and Arturo Pérez, who have worked for months with the team on the design, manufacture and fine-tuning of the vehicle.
The rector of the UPV, José Capilla, who has accompanied the team in Michigan during the competition, has congratulated the members of Generación Espontánea after knowing the final result.
“What these students have achieved is extraordinary. They have once again placed the UPV and Spain at the top of one of the most demanding university technology competitions in the world. I have been able to see here in Michigan the level of effort, professionalism and passion with which they have worked for months to achieve this new success,” said the rector.
Formula SAE, organized by SAE International since 1981, is considered the most prestigious university automotive competition in the world and brings together engineering teams from the best international universities every year.
With this new triumph, the UPV reaffirms its international leadership in practical training, innovation and university technological talent.
About Spontaneous Generation UPV
Generación Espontánea UPV is a program of the Universitat Politècnica de València that encourages student projects in various fields, promoting applied learning and the development of transversal competencies. It brings together 65 teams from different disciplines that bring together more than 3,000 UPV students.
Source: UPV