Kookmin University's KORA team ranks 8th at global Formula SAE Electric competition

Kookmin University's racing team, KORA, secured an impressive 8th place overall at the '2026 Formula SAE Electric' world competition held in Michigan. The event, hosted by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), saw over 100 universities compete in the electric vehicle category, with teams showcasing their custom-designed and built electric formula cars.

KORA's F-26 vehicle, developed with a focus on high stability and dynamic performance across all events, advanced to the final in the Design Event, ultimately ranking 12th. The team also demonstrated strong performance in the Dynamic Event, achieving 9th place in Skidpad and 11th in Autocross. Notably, the F-26 secured a remarkable 3rd place in the Endurance Event, attributed to its fast lap times and stable driving performance.

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We were able to showcase the excellence of Kookmin University's automotive engineering on the world stage through this competition.

This success marks KORA's second participation in the competition and signifies a significant improvement in vehicle completion and competitiveness compared to their previous entry. The achievement also aligns with Kookmin University's strategic focus on mobility as one of its eight specialized fields under the 'KMU VISION 2035: EDGE' development plan. Students directly engaged in the entire process of electric vehicle design, manufacturing, testing, and performance enhancement, proving their practical R&D capabilities on a global stage.

Team project manager Jo Hyun-seong expressed pride in showcasing Kookmin University's automotive engineering excellence globally, calling the experience invaluable. Professor Shin Sung-hwan, dean of the university's College of Automotive Mobility, lauded the students' efforts and commitment, emphasizing the university's continued dedication to nurturing talent in the future automotive sector.

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I am proud of the KORA students who achieved a valuable 8th place overall in just two years of competition, competing against world-class universities with electric formulas.