RTU students build their third student racing car for international competitions

The ''FS RTU'' student team from Riga Technical University (RTU) has finished building its third racing car within the international Formula Student engineering competition. The team will travel this weekend to its first event of the season in Croatia, with further races in Poland and Italy to follow.

Improvements over the previous model

The new car is roughly 15% lighter than last year's version, while engine output has increased by 5–8%. The suspension geometry has been completely redesigned, with a new suspension system working alongside a full aerodynamic package that includes front and rear wings and an underfloor. The car also carries an expanded sensor network, allowing the team to collect data for simulation validation and to analyze both the car's and the driver's performance on track.

The chassis is built from a metal tube frame, while composite parts are made of carbon fiber. Power comes from a Yamaha two-cylinder 689 cc engine, which also functions as a structural, load-bearing element. The electronics system was developed according to international motorsport standards, with particular focus on reliability.

Team experience and thanks to supporters

Team captain Elīza Ripa said this season brought major improvements to both the car and the team's lineup, which has grown as new students joined. She highlighted that several team members graduated from RTU for the first time this year, entering the job market with practical experience gained through the student formula project. The team thanked RTU and its supporters, including companies Abplanalp, DriveEO and ToGet.

The new car was officially presented at the Riga Motor Museum. At the upcoming competitions, teams are judged in static disciplines — including business plan, cost report and engineering design presentations — as well as dynamic disciplines covering acceleration, handling, autocross and endurance.

Previous experience

RTU students built their first Formula Student car in 2024, debuting at competitions in Hungary. With their second car in 2025, the team earned the first podium finishes in the history of Latvian student formula racing — 2nd place in the business plan presentation and 3rd place in acceleration at competitions in Poland. Competing also at the prestigious Red Bull Ring in Austria, the team qualified for the demanding endurance event but was forced to withdraw due to technical issues — an experience the team applied while developing this year's car.