We are immensely proud of our FUF Racing Team, which made it to the winner's podium by securing 3rd place in the International Formula SAE Student Competition. The Competition was held in Italy on September 4-8.

The team, composed of Frederick University students from various programs of study, competed with a formula-style car that they designed and built entirely from scratch under the guidance of Professor Antonis Lontos, in the labs of the University’s Engineering School.

The team celebrated their 3rd place finish in the highly competitive category of internal combustion engine vehicles, competing against 18 university teams from around the world. The first place was secured by Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia (Italy), and the second place by the University of Applied Sciences in Aachen (Germany). The FUF Racing Team earned 3rd place in the dynamic events, including endurance, fuel consumption, acceleration, skid pad, and autocross. They also achieved 4th place in the static Engineering Design competition.

This accolade is a significant achievement and a major milestone for the entire Cypriot academic community, placing Cyprus at the forefront of academic automotive engineering education. It also stands as a tangible example of student involvement in applied research and innovation, a practice systematically promoted by Frederick University via its Active Students and Frederick University Living Lab initiatives. 

University teams participating in the competition are tasked with designing and building a Formula-style race car, which they then race on a track. They are evaluated based on a range of criteria including business planning, cost analysis, engineering and manufacturing design, much like a real company. The FUF Racing Team members created their own car by designing and manufacturing nearly all of the vehicle's components in the high-tech labs of the University’s Engineering School. The team comprises students from not only Mechanical Engineering and Automotive Engineering programs but also from Architecture Engineering, Civil Engineering, Business Administration, and Visual Communication programs. Team members are responsible for finding sponsors, creating a business plan, designing uniforms, and managing the team’s promotion and preparation process for the competition, as well.

Frederick University is the first university in Cyprus to design and build a Formula-style race car. This year marked the fourth participation in the international Formula SAE Student competition, with their first entry in 2017. Notably, students at the Department of Engineering of the then Technical and Economic School of Nicosia, which later evolved into Frederick University, have been building race cars since the 1960s! The first car was constructed in 1969 and could reach speeds of 55 miles per hour!

Ms. Natassa Frederickou, President of the Council, and Rector, Prof. George Demosthenous, welcomed the FUF Racing Team members to the university immediately upon their return to Cyprus.

“We are incredibly proud of our students. They worked hard throughout the year, with dedication and determination, and achieved this significant victory. Their success highlights their potential and underlines the potential of the new generation when given the right tools. We warmly congratulate them. We also extend our heartfelt congratulations to the team's Academic Advisor, Professor Antonis Lontos, whose experience and expertise played a crucial role in this achievement!” said Ms. Frederickou.

Professor Antonis Lontos commented: “I am very proud of the dedication, perseverance, and teamwork of our students, both during the competition and throughout the preparation period, with the countless hours spent in the lab leading to this result. Their victory is even more significant considering the competition from university teams with vast experience and much larger resources. This new success validates their hard work, commitment, and professionalism.”

Marios Kyprianou, a student from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and one of the team leaders, noted: “The experience of participating in the competition was unique. We learned a lot and realized that we are not far behind international universities! The foundation we receive from our University is very strong, and the level is equally high. We thank the University and our Academic Advisor for providing us with all the tools and support to achieve this result. Most importantly, we realized that there are no limits to what we can achieve!”

The FUF Racing Team is one of the co-curricular activities offered by Frederick University, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom and develop valuable skills.

Frederick University warmly congratulates the team: Academic Advisor Professor Antonis Lontos and team members Marios Kyprianou, Dimitris Koutsoukis, Michalis Michaelides, Fotis Manelides, Marios Athanasiou, Andreas Thrasyvoulou, Kyprianos Diogenous, Frederiki Vraka, Jordan Kyriakou, Konstantinos Hanappas, Paris Anastasi, Michalis Panayiotou, Alexandros Eskandar, Andreas Lontos, Aris Irakleous, Kyriakos Andronikou, and Isaac Kofour.

The team extends heartfelt thanks to its sponsors: Cyprus Sports Organization (KOA), Christos Kapodistrias & Sons, DIAS Scaffolding, Fworxtuning, Youth Board of Cyprus (ONEK), Texaco Lubricants Cyprus, Archimedes Metal Industry, SP Skies, SIKKENS, Anaxagoras Pneumatics, FESTO, SATWORKS, Agathangelou, OASI Business Technicians, Thomason Machinery, Shiahini, Panayiotis Panayi Workshop, Rabel Systems, Achna Speedway, Daytona Raceway, Lanitis Aristophanous, Eye Desire Signs, Street Sins Burger, SOPRO Radiators, Swedish Levant Trading, Silver Star Insurance, Photis Panayi Metal Constructions, and RRS.