The University of Akron’s Zips Racing student design team earned second place overall in the electric vehicle class at the 2026 Formula Hybrid+Electric competition, held April 26-30 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H.

Hosted annually by Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth as part of the SAE Collegiate Design Series, Formula Hybrid+Electric challenges university teams to design, build and compete with formula-style electric and hybrid racecars.

The 2026 competition brought together 23 teams, with more than 500 students participating overall. According to published results, 21 teams officially scored points in dynamic events across the competition.

Competing against collegiate engineering programs from across North America, Zips Racing delivered a strong performance with its 2026 electric racecar, known as ZR26, earning podium finishes in every event and securing the team’s first-ever design victory in program history.

The team’s final results included:

• First place - Autocross
• First place - Design
• Second place - Acceleration
• Third place - Project Management
• Third place - Endurance
• Second place overall - EV Class

The second-place overall finish marked the team’s highest placement since earning second at Formula Student East in Hungary in 2019.

ZR26 was central to the team’s performance throughout the event. The vehicle is the fastest car in Zips Racing history, capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds with a top speed of 76 mph. Powered by in-wheel hub motors at each wheel, the car produces 107 horsepower and represents only the second hub-motor-powered vehicle in team history.

The team also introduced several new systems and design features on ZR26, including its first custom dashboard and data acquisition system. Additional vehicle specifications include a 590-volt, 6.65 kilowatt-hour high-voltage battery pack, a lightweight composite chassis, redesigned suspension and steering systems and dual-stage planetary gearboxes that help transfer power more efficiently to the wheels. The team reported that ZR26 has already accumulated more than 60 miles of testing and track time.

Zips Racing’s performance was also driven by continued vehicle refinement. The team reported that ZR26 weighed 417 pounds at competition, a reduction of 133 pounds from the previous year’s car. The lower weight improved efficiency and contributed to stronger acceleration, handling and responsiveness across dynamic events.

Formula Hybrid+Electric requires students to integrate electrical systems, drivetrain design, controls engineering and project management into a fully functioning racecar. The competition provides students with the opportunity to apply classroom concepts to real-world engineering challenges while competing against peer institutions.

“I’m incredibly proud of what our team accomplished with ZR26 at Formula Hybrid+Electric,” said team captain Andrew Raineri, an aerospace systems engineering major. “This result reflects months of hard work, problem-solving and commitment from every member of Zips Racing. It’s exciting to see that effort pay off and we’re looking forward to carrying this momentum into Formula SAE Michigan as we continue pushing ourselves to improve.”

Zips Racing is advised by Dr. Alper Buldum, professor of mechanical engineering, and Dr. Ali Elrayyah, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering.

With Formula Hybrid+Electric complete, the team has shifted its focus to Formula SAE Michigan, scheduled for June 16-20, 2026, while continuing long-term efforts to return to European competition with its electric vehicle for the first time in program history. The team previously competed in Europe with a combustion-powered vehicle but has not yet competed there with an electric car.

About Zips Racing

Zips Racing is The University of Akron’s Formula SAE student design team and includes more than 50 student members representing a wide range of engineering and non-engineering majors.

The team designs and manufactures a formula-style race car each year to compete against collegiate teams from around the world. Through vehicle design, manufacturing, testing and competition, students apply concepts learned in the classroom in a fast-paced environment that mirrors the automotive industry while gaining experience in engineering design, project management and team collaboration.

Zips Racing regularly places among the top teams at national and international competitions and continues building toward a return to the European competition scene with an electric vehicle program.