VCU Ram Racing to Compete in 2028 Formula SAE
The student-led engineering team is preparing the new VCU-04 race car for the upcoming international competition.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Motorsports
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Ram Racing, a student-led team at VCU, plans to enter the VCU-04 race car into the 2028 Formula SAE competition. The team is currently working to build the vehicle for the event, which is expected to host 120 competing squads.
Why it matters
The program serves as a platform for students to demonstrate VCU engineering capabilities on a national stage. By designing and building complex vehicles, the team prepares members for future roles in the automotive industry.
Ram Racing maintains a roster of 25 to 30 student members dedicated to the development of the VCU-04. Organizers expect 120 teams to participate in the 2028 Formula SAE competition.
The players
Ram Racing
This is a multidisciplinary student-led team at VCU that focuses on building race cars for engineering competitions.
VCU
Virginia Commonwealth University is the home institution for the Ram Racing engineering program.
The details
The program recruits new members before seniors graduate to ensure consistent training and knowledge transfer across the team. Members build vehicles designed to meet the rigorous engineering challenges set forth by the Formula SAE competition.
Timeline
2010: The VCU engineering program began.
2017: The team built the VCU-01 car and competed in Nebraska.
2019: Ram Racing debuted the VCU-02 vehicle.
Spring 2026: The VCU-03 competed at the Michigan International Speedway.
2028: The team plans to debut the VCU-04 at the Formula SAE competition.
Season Trajectory
Ram Racing competes within the established Formula Society of Automotive Engineers circuit to test their engineering designs against collegiate peers. The development of the VCU-04 represents a continuation of the team's long-term goal to improve performance metrics in the annual event.
The transition to the VCU-04 indicates a continued evolution in the team's technical approach following the debut of their first electric car, the VCU-03. Successful execution of the build ensures the team remains a participant in the competitive 120-team field.
The takeaway
Participation in Formula SAE offers students hands-on experience in complex vehicle design and team management. Aspiring engineers can benefit from following the team's development process as they refine their designs for the 2028 competition.
What happens next
Ram Racing will present the VCU-04 at the Formula SAE competition in 2028 where 120 teams are expected to participate.
Further reading
Learn more about local technical achievements in the Motorsports section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Commonwealth Times.
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