Cardiff engineers gear up for race at Silverstone

Daniel Bevan - Editor

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A team of student engineers from Cardiff University is gearing up to race at Silverstone, as part of a long-running industry partnership with Cummins Inc..

Backed by Cummins, the Cardiff Racing Formula Student team is preparing to design, build and race a single-seat car at the Formula Student competition, set to take place at Silverstone Circuit from July 15–19, 2026.

Around 30 students are involved in the Cardiff Racing project, which tasks participants with developing a prototype race car and competing across a series of engineering and performance challenges.

The 2026 competition is a first for the Cardiff team, as it transitions from combustion engines to a fully electric vehicle for the first time under the partnership.

Development work is already underway, with an initial prototype battery pack built and currently undergoing bench testing.

The full vehicle assembly is scheduled for completion in May, giving the team a narrow window to prepare ahead of the summer competition.

Since the partnership began in 2003, more than 400 students have taken part, with 12 engineering graduates going on to join Cummins.

Xander Bell, a Cardiff University student and Cardiff Racing competitor, said: “The move from combustion to electric in 2026 is incredibly exciting for the team.

“This is a great opportunity to get practical experience working on an electric vehicle while competing against some powerful teams from across Europe.

“I did a Year in Industry placement with Cummins in Cwmbran, and it’s great to apply the skills I learned there to the Cardiff Racing project.

“The preparation so far has been good and we’re confident for the build, but we can’t wait to get to Silverstone and get the car competing on the track.”

Jonathan Wood, Chief Technical Officer of Cummins, said: “The long-standing partnership with Cardiff University forms a key part of our commitment to supporting the development of practical engineering skills and supporting students as they prepare for future engineering careers.

“With 12 engineering graduates already recruited to Cummins since the partnership began, the programme continues to provide opportunities to attract highly talented engineering graduates from Formula Student teams.”

Dr. Alastair Clarke, Faculty Advisor of Cardiff Racing, added: “We’re absolutely delighted to be partnering with Cummins as we develop our first electric Formula Student car.

“It’s a massive challenge for us at Cardiff Racing to change the powertrain of the vehicle, moving away from our known internal-combustion engine to develop a new electric powertrain, but we are confident that this partnership provides us with the resources, knowledge and support needed to develop a winning electric car.

“It’s great to firm up our long-term association with the Brakes team at Cwmbran, where over the years literally dozens of Cardiff students have undertaken Year in Industry placements and gone on to graduate employment in the business.

“We can’t thank the team at Cummins enough for entering into this exciting partnership with us – here’s to an exciting, electrified future!”

Founded in 1981 and now run by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Formula Student challenges university teams to design and build a prototype race car and pitch it as a viable product to a fictional manufacturing firm.