Fueled by Fall: What’s New with Grizzlies Racing
- OU SAE
- Jan 28
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 31
2025 Michigan International Speedway Results
Grizzlies Racing is proud to announce an outstanding performance at the 2025 Formula SAE competition held at Michigan International Speedway! Out of 121 teams from around the world, we placed an impressive 13th overall.
Last season, Grizzlies Racing finished 14th overall at Formula SAE Michigan. This year, the team climbed even higher, earning 13th place in a highly competitive field of universities from around the world. This marks the team’s best finish since 2003 and reflects years of consistent growth. The achievement showcases the team’s dedication, improved collaboration, and commitment to designing a faster, more reliable car each season.
What even is FSAE?
Formula SAE (FSAE) stands for Formula Society of Automotive Engineers, an international collegiate engineering competition that pushes students to design, build, test, and race a small, formula-style race car. The program is organized by SAE International and serves as one of the most recognized and respected student engineering challenges in the world.
The goal of FSAE is to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world engineering practice. Students move beyond lectures and textbooks to gain direct, hands-on experience managing the full lifecycle of a complex engineering project from initial concept and design to fabrication, testing, and completion.
Throughout the process, students develop critical skills that extend far beyond technical design. They learn creativity and innovation in problem-solving, time and resource management, teamwork across multiple disciplines, and effective communication skills that are highly sought after in the engineering industry.
Competitions are divided into two main categories: Static Events and Dynamic Events. Static events test a team’s understanding of design, cost analysis, and business presentation, rewarding teams for the depth of their engineering and project planning. Dynamic events, on the other hand, put the car to the test on track, evaluating acceleration, endurance, autocross performance, and fuel efficiency.
In short, FSAE challenges students to think like professional engineers and entrepreneurs, transforming classroom theory into real-world performance through teamwork, innovation, and precision.
Fall kick-off competition and fun.
The second annual OU Grand Prix, held on Sept. 13, brought together 15 Formula SAE teams and nearly 500 spectators for a day of high-energy racing and an engineering showcase. Oakland University’s Grizzlies Racing team overcame a recurring tire challenge to put on a strong performance, highlighting the progress they’ve made in recent years. Sponsored by Mahle, Magna, and K-Tec, the event emphasized both competition and community, giving student teams the chance to demonstrate their innovation, resilience, and passion for racing as they prepare for the upcoming 2026 international competition at Michigan International Speedway.
Pie the Leads Night was the ultimate way to wrap up summer and kick off the fall semester. Between the laughs, the energy, and, of course, the pies, the event brought everyone together and showcased the fun side of our team culture. It was the perfect reminder that while we work hard, we also know how to make memories.
Welcoming in the new leads of this season!
Each season, Grizzlies Racing establishes a new leadership team to guide the development of the car and the organization. This structure consists of an Executive Board—also known as Admins—who oversee operations, finances, marketing, and team management, along with Subsystem Leaders who manage the design, fabrication, and testing of specific components such as suspension, powertrain, chassis, and electrical. Together, these leaders ensure that the team stays organized, efficient, and aligned toward a common goal: building a competitive and innovative Formula SAE vehicle.
Let’s hear what this year’s leaders have to say about their goals.
Each subsystem lead brings a unique vision and set of priorities to the table, whether it’s improving performance, optimizing manufacturing, or mentoring new members. These goals not only shape the direction of the GR26 car but also reflect the team’s long-term commitment to growth and innovation. From refining design processes and testing reliability to expanding outreach and strengthening collaboration, every lead plays a key role in driving Grizzlies Racing forward.
This season, the focus isn’t just on building a faster car—it’s on building a stronger team, developing future engineers, and setting new standards for what Grizzlies Racing can achieve.
“As the president of the team, I am striving for the team to accomplish a top 10 finish this year at MIS. As well as setting up the team for success by incentivizing knowledge transfer to new members.”
- Daniel T. Giacomin
“Goal: Design finalist”
- Jessica McKee
“I would say a personal goal for me is to get a better understanding of each subsystem by doing projects hands-on. Team goal-wise, I would say my goal is to make all members feel like they are part of the Grizzlies Racing "family"
- Jaslynn Pham
“One big MIS goal is to place in the top 12 (finals) for the business case presentation.”
- Deacon Fancher
“For me, one goal would be to place Top 10 in Business Presentation but also encourage team collaboration.”
-Luke Schenkel
“This season, Powertrain is dialing in the details, refining small systems that make a big difference in performance. Every improvement brings us one step closer to the perfect run.”
- Connor Johnson
“Reduce the weight of chassis harness by 50%, and achieve the complete instrumentation of GR26 to validate and optimize designs.”
- Antonio Ristevski
“One big goal is to increase member knowledge and experience because we are such a young team; getting new members’ experience is vital for the advancement and future of the team.”
- Zachary Petrycia
What's next?
As the weather cools down, the Production and Design teams are heating up entering one of the most intense and exciting phases of the season. With driver days in full swing, the team is focused on fine-tuning every aspect of the car’s performance. This means making adjustments based on data, refining design details, and running as many tests as possible to push the vehicle to its limits before competition season.
From optimizing handling and braking to improving reliability and driver comfort, every test session brings new insights that help the team evolve the car into its best form yet. The colder months aren’t slowing Grizzlies Racing down they’re fueling progress, precision, and a drive to perfect every lap before the team hits the track in 2026.