Formula Manipal Interview

•1 min read

Formula racing is one of the world’s most tuned into sports. Watching the best drivers skillfully navigate sharp turns at a very high speed gives a thrill that can’t be obtained from anywhere else. If the driving is one side of the coin, then the other is the cars themselves. Over a century of automobile, motor, and mechanical engineering was condensed into the cars. To find out more about this sport, and details about the car, MTTN decided to approach Formula Manipal, the student project in MIT dedicated to building and racing formula cars.

The races are conducted by Formula Society of Automotive Engineers, generally abbreviated to FSAE. The races are divided into two categories, combustion engine races consisting of F1, F2, F3, F4 and electric engine races having only Formula Electric. Formula Manipal only builds F1 and F2 cars, since F3 and F4 racing only consists of go karts. In addition to the above, there is one last competition, the one in which Formula Manipal participates in, called Formula Student. Most mechanics and people who work on the car usually come from the Formula Student competition, it’s described as a stepping stone to the big leagues.

Formula Manipal made its first electric car in 2019 and debuted its first car in the electric category in Formula Bharat 2025, where it managed to secure an impressive 3rd place in the nation. With this short-term success, they made the executive decision to switch to building solely electric cars. This is primarily because competitions have begun phasing out combustion cars, and the Formula team would like to enter these competitions with a better understanding of electric cars and stay ahead of the curve. They want to familiarise themselves with the rulebook, which includes a set of regulations that the team must adhere to before they are allowed to participate in the competition. These rules are different for combustion and electric cars. So, the team wishes to gain some hands-on experience, to ensure that they can breeze through the technical inspection that takes place prior to the competition.

Vandana, the Mechanical Head of Formula Manipal, explained that cars can be broadly classified into mechanical and electric. She further goes on to explain that combustion and electric cars have their own unique challenges. Combustion cars have a complicated mechanical system, including pistons, valves, gears, and a clutch system, that all must work harmoniously. However, this difficulty is not faced in electric cars, where the motor drives the wheel, simply with the help of a chain drive. That said, building an electric vehicle is no cakewalk, as the challenge lies in tuning the motor systems to ensure optimal functioning. To ensure this, they do ample testing, including static and dynamic testing with a driver.

Now speaking of new things happening in Formula Manipal, they are also working towards integrating autonomous driving technology into their electric chassis from the previous year. They hope to have a fully functional driverless car by the end of the year. They have also just introduced their research subsystem, which they hope will help understand past and future cars, allowing them to fix and rebuild newer cars.

Something that Formula Manipal expects out of members and newer recruits is discipline and time. Since a student needs to dedicate seven days a week to the team with the task phase and general workshops, it usually takes a toll on him or her. Though a truly thrilling experience, being a part of Formula Manipal is not an easy commitment. To be recruited, the team simply looks at basic knowledge, along with the passion and potential of a student to learn, take responsibility and manage time efficiently.

The new recruits are briefed about the basics and parts of the car, going into various details depending on the field that the students have chosen. This procedure is done during the task phase. Throughout the year, a senior member keeps in constant contact with them to guide each one regarding doubts.

Despite the demanding schedule that Formula Manipal requires of the team members, their competition wins always serve as a measure of their hard-earned rewards.

While the team pays utmost attention to nurturing its recruits and current members, it also maintains strong ties with its alumni. Various former members have gone on to work at globally renowned companies such as Mercedes, McLaren, Haas, Red Bull, etc.

“It shows that the students who come here actually learn enough to reach these kinds of places,” Vandana said.

This ongoing connection reflects the team’s legacy and enhances the functioning of Formula Manipal with the knowledge and experience that the alumni bring.

Apart from just winning competitions, the members of Formula Manipal wish to enhance their skills, gain knowledge, and become good engineers. The team as a whole only move forward with their exceptional friendships and teamwork, growing to be one of the top Formula Student teams in India.

This ongoing connection reflects the team’s legacy and enhances the functioning of Formula Manipal with the knowledge and experience that the alumni bring.