Every day has presented a new challenge for everyone: Lead, STAFF and teams. These are just some of the remarkable highlights:
The dynamic maestros?
AMZ Racing has won the past three editions of FSCH. The expectations from the outside are very high, with the team concentrated as champions are. Inspections are passed quickly and finals are reached for every static discipline. Like a routine, which it definetly is not. In those three events, ENGINEERING DESIGN delivers P1 and COST AND MANUFACTURING P2. Positely charged to hit the Dynamic Area, the team racks up best performances after the other. Their car, nera, competes in the Driverless Cup as well. Tight margins are deciding the podium and eventually, the Swiss equipe comes out on top, in all four classifications. On Race Day 3, the ENDURANCE can seals the games. Debris on track may disrupt the run, but in the end, P1 is theirs, on track... At post-inspection, leaking brake fluid is found and this is against the rules. A DQ follows as a natural consequence and the protest is finally rejected. Missing out on this result delivers no OVERALL podium. But... DV SKIPDAD P1, SKIDPAD P1, DV ACCELERATION P1, ACCELERATION P1 and AUTOCROSS P1 are simply a testament of eccellence. Winning is motivational, but their bonded group of over sixty members drives their competitiveness...
Challenging the Alps
The University of Auckland marks their return to overseas competitions after 20 years, debuting in Switzerland. The mountain is high to climb from the start though. Initially arriving with four team members, it becomes a thriller whether the car would make it through the border. On the next day, the equipe is ready: men and machine are there. Still, electrical gremlins seem to get the better of everything. Not giving up, the Kiwis are united and master all pre-inspections right before the AUTOCROSS event, however with a mere 30 minutes of battery charging. Nevertheless, after two hick-ups, finally the chequered flag is in sight. The verdict, however, states a DQ. No data logger data has been available, and this is against the regulations. The ENDURANCE run gets off better. Consistent lap times are a positive sign, especially since no testing was carried out in Europe. With two laps remaining, a well-deserved achievement was moments away... Next, woes come back into play and the driver starts slowing down to bring the car home. As the final lap starts, suddenly the vehicle is literally crawling around the track. Heartbeats rise and then... happiness and relief. Finishing the endurance event mirrors their hard-work and resilience. Again, after post-inspection, a DQ is stated, this time for a technical infringment. The challenging campaign finds a nice outcome eventually. While running ENDURANCE, number E47 hit a cone, which remained stuck on the car for 5 laps! This resulted in the playful "CLEANUP CREW AWARD". Moreover, the lessons learned and the exchanges done have enriched the UNI Auckland FSAE Team, which carries the Bruce McLaren Motor Racing logo and seeks to turn their grit into new successes...
Dutch weather emotions
The big story of FS Switzerland 2026 must be Formula Student Team Delft. The record-breaking Dutchmen arrive for their FSCH premiere. Everything runs smooth, inspections are passed step by step, solely their truck not passing through the tunnel and a black-out in the pits seem the minor inconveniences. There is, however, a significant deficit. Only two driven wheels could be assembled successfully, whilst the opponents will blast past with 4WD. So, the SKIDPAD is competitive, but not podium-alike. ACCELERATION brings a new issue, resulting in no points. Then, after some fixes, AUTOCROSS does not deliver either. Even worse, a DQ follows. Spirits are quiet, yet, the static disciplines have delivered two finals, whose results would come out in a few hours... BUSINESS PLAN PRESENTATION P1! Pure joy breaks out and how. But nothing has finished already. ENDURANCE, the most demanding event is performance-friendly the next day, however... the energy levels are jumping around constantly, and every single instant can change the whole race. In the end, the DUT26 successfully crosses the line, clocking up the 3rd fastest time, and during post-inspection... it gets disqualified. Brake fluid is deemed to leak, but it actually is grease. Thus, no penalty can be applied, as this particular circumstance does not interfere with the rulebook. Entering the Award Ceremony, the excitement, adrenaline and atmosphere ramps up. ENGINEERING DESIGN P3, ENDURANCE P2 and EFFICIENCY P1, all for the team which has had a incredibly challenging racing experience, followed by their determination to achieve their best. The turnaround is culminated by OVERALL P2 in the MAIN CLASS, and an awesome, celebrated afterparty...