Università degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

From the Motor Valley to the US: Unimore and Unibo take centre stage at Formula SAE Michigan 2026

The MoRe Modena Racing team from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, alongside UniBo Motorsport, recently competed in Formula SAE Michigan 2026, held last week at the Michigan International Speedway (USA).

For the first time, both teams entered the competition together under the auspices of MUNER (Motorvehicle University of Emilia-Romagna). MUNER provided crucial logistical backing and institutional coordination for the trip, showcasing two student-developed prototypes from the Emilia-Romagna region in the United States—a true reflection of the technical and educational excellence driving the Motor Valley.

Formula SAE Michigan is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious and internationally renowned student automotive competitions. Organised by SAE International, the annual event draws over 110 university teams from across the globe. Students are tasked with designing, developing, and racing formula-style single-seaters. Their work is evaluated through a rigorous series of static and dynamic events, including design, cost, business presentation, technical inspection, and on-track performance.

The Italian teams' campaign was hampered by logistical setbacks completely beyond the control of either the universities or the students. Despite these challenging hurdles, both teams demonstrated outstanding technical capability and remarkable resilience under pressure, proving the underlying strength and reliability of their designs.

The final results underscore the exceptional engineering calibre of these "made in Motor Valley" prototypes:

• MoRe Modena Racing secured 3rd place in the Acceleration event, 2nd place in the Design Event, and finished 12th in the overall standings.
• UniBo Motorsport completed the competition in a highly commendable 18th place overall.

"Formula SAE Michigan is an incredibly demanding testing ground, given both the high calibre of technical skill and the sheer complexity of the project," commented Matteo Giacopini, Faculty Advisor for MoRe Modena Racing. "Securing such strong results in the Design and Acceleration events under such disadvantageous conditions confirms the exceptional standard of our students' work and the ultimate value of our engineering platform."

"This experience was about far more than just racing," stated the Team Leaders. "We found ourselves handling tasks in a matter of hours that would normally take days, all while keeping our focus and maintaining a tight-knit team spirit under immensely complex conditions."

This joint venture cements MUNER's role as a vital collaborative platform bridging universities, industry, and the local region. It highlights its ability to nurture student talent while championing the Motor Valley’s automotive and motorsport expertise on the global stage.

"This achievement highlights that the Motor Valley is just as much about top-tier education as it is about manufacturing," declared Francesco Leali, Director of the "Enzo Ferrari" Department of Engineering at Unimore and delegated member of the MUNER Executive Committee. "Supporting our teams in arenas like Formula SAE means investing directly in the skill sets of the next generation of engineers and ensuring they are fully equipped to compete globally."

MoRe Modena Racing

Based at the "Enzo Ferrari" Department of Engineering, MoRe Modena Racing is the Formula Student team of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. The team focuses on developing high-performance racing prototypes to compete in premier international events. MoRe Modena Racing currently holds the number one spot in the Formula Student world rankings.

UniBo Motorsport

UniBo Motorsport is the Formula Student and MotoStudent team of the University of Bologna. Coordinated by the Department of Industrial Engineering, the team brings together over 350 students dedicated to designing and building racing prototypes, utilising a highly interdisciplinary approach that bridges engineering, project management, and operational logistics.

Categorie: International - english, Notizie_eng