Valparaiso University Engineers Put Their Skills to the Test with Race Car Design and Construction
Valparaiso, Indiana – Students in the Valparaiso University College of Engineering are designing, fabricating and racing their own small, formula-style vehicle to compete in the SAE International Formula SAE Michigan competition. The event will take place in Spring of 2026 at the Michigan International Speedway.
“I’m so happy I’m part of this. I can’t express how grateful I am for how far this has come, and for all that I’ve learned,” Kailey White ’27 said.
White, a lifelong car enthusiast, wants to work in the automotive industry as a racecar engineer after graduation. Her passion for cars led her to discover the competition and start the Valparaiso University team. Throughout the spring of 2025, the group designed and digitally assembled the vehicle for fabrication over the summer. The current design should reach top speeds of between 160 and 200 mph.
“We have a long way to go, but we’ve come so far, and I really think this is going to happen,” White said.
The Valparaiso University Formula SAE team is composed entirely of undergraduate engineers, which has meant a steep learning curve for a lot of programs and systems. Simon Sunblade, technical equipment specialist for the College of Engineering, serves as the group’s faculty advisor, providing a wealth of knowledge and experience to help push the project forward.
This project gives Valpo Students the ability to really utilize the tools and knowledge that our engineering students learn here, and allows them to get hands-on in the beginning of their college careers,” Sunblade said. “They have the vision and now they are obtaining the skills necessary to bring the vision to life.”
The next biggest challenge for the group has been acquiring the parts, materials, and tools necessary for the build. White and her team have put together are seeking out sponsors from both community businesses and national brands in order to bring their vision to life. Any interested parties can contact White directly at kailey.white@valpo.edu.
For students, having these hands-on opportunities to pursue their interests is part of the experience Valparaiso University prides itself on providing. For White — who came to Valpo to pursue engineering while playing the violin — the project is just as much an exercise in communication, leadership and teamwork as it is in technical skill.
“It’s a team effort, first and foremost,” White said. “I’m humbled and blessed to have the people we have. They’re all really hard workers, and I’m excited to see where this goes.” Learning, leading and thriving are three pillars of the University’s five-year plan Uplift Valpo, Our Beacon for the Journey Forward. For more information on the Formula SAE competition, visit their website here.
