by Metropol | November 11, 2026 8:33 am
Up to 50 University of Canterbury (UC) engineering students spend thousands of hours each year designing, building, and testing a formula-style electric race car on top of their full-time study. The innovative UCM25 race car, designed by the UC Motorsport (UCM) student club, won the regional Formula SAE-Australasia in Melbourne in 2025 and will now compete at Formula Student China in Hefei from 17 to 22 November.
UCM25 features a lightweight carbon-fibre chassis, custom-made wheels and components, and electrical systems developed by the students, including its battery and battery management system. The team put the car through an intensive testing programme, identifying and fixing problems until it was reliable enough to take the overall title at Formula
SAE-Australasia.
Team Principal Moss Benton says not all UCM team members are car enthusiasts – some are just drawn by the engineering challenge and the chance to build teamwork, communication and leadership skills in a high-pressure, real-world project.
Former UCM members have gone on to work in some of the world’s most exciting engineering industries, from Formula 1 and motorsport to aerospace and advanced manufacturing, he says. “Industry loves UCM for the skills the club teaches us.”
Two cars, two competitions, one ambitious team
As UCM25 prepares for its international debut in China, the students are also gearing up to compete with an entirely new race car in Adelaide, Australia. The team’s latest technically advanced creation, UCM26, was unveiled on 21 October before competing at Formula SAE-Australasia from 7 to 10 December.
Source URL: https://metropol.co.nz/student-built-electric-race-car-takes-on-china/
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