The Wyoming Motorsports champion formula hybrid + electric vehicle competes on the track in New Hampshire in this spring’s SAE Formula Hybrid + Electric competition. (Formula Hybrid + Electric Photo)
The University of Wyoming’s Wyoming Motorsports student organization is living up
to its motto of “Build, Race, Win.”
The team recently competed in the SAE Formula Hybrid + Electric competition in Loudon,
N.H, where it was crowned champion for the second year in a row.
This year’s race vehicle featured improvements based on lessons learned last year,
including a lighter engine; a more powerful energy supply; improvements to the rear
wing, “whiskers” and front wings to reduce drag and improve aerodynamics; an improved
steering system; and a more effective clutch.
Team member Carly Neidel, of Norman, Okla., who will take Zachary Goldner’s place
as the Wyoming Motorsports president in the 2026-27 season, says the experience in
New Hampshire was “another incredible learning experience for both the team and me.
I am extremely proud of everyone’s hard work throughout the year.”
Neidel adds that she was pleased at how much more quickly the vehicle passed through
mechanical and electrical technical inspections this year. She says that it is something
the team has been working on by practicing its own mock inspections, and her goal
for the team in the upcoming year is to pass technical inspections on the first attempt
without the need for revisions.
While many things went more smoothly this year, and the team did drive away with the
win, the competition was not without its challenges. For example, the vehicle experienced
a communication issue between the inverter and electric motor. Unable to get the correct
replacement part shipped in time, the team reached out to a school in Massachusetts
for a compatible part. Following an impromptu two-hour road trip, the team secured
the replacement inverter and was able to continue competing, Neidel says.
Wyoming Motorsports is one of the more unique opportunities for students at UW. Open
to students of every year and every major, the student organization prides itself
on its opportunities for hands-on, applied learning in mechanical and electrical engineering
and fabrication, as well as business and marketing. Students learn not only how to
design and build their competition vehicles from scratch in-house, but also how to
secure sponsors for funding, balance a budget and conduct outreach.
“This experience taught me valuable lessons about project management, preparation
and the importance of being versatile when solving real-world engineering problems,”
Neidel says.
Members of the Wyoming Motorsports formula hybrid team, listed by hometown, are:
Cheyenne -- Connor Fisbeck and Riley Milburn.
Cody -- Teigan Blain.
Denver, Colo. -- Zachary Goldner.
Gillette -- Matt Cathey.
Norman, Okla. -- Carly Neidel.
Phoenix, Ariz. -- Sam Mitchell.
Timnath, Colo. -- Julian Amundson.
Wasilla, Alaska -- Giovanni Zuber.
Windsor, Colo. -- Giovanni Monaco.
Next up for Wyoming Motorsports is its first attempt at the SAE Baja Competition in
Ohio in October.
Wyoming Motorsports sponsors are Snaptron, 9H Research Foundation, Associated Students
of UW, the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Gene Haas Foundation, Enepaq, FRPC,
Easy Composites, Monster Energy Drinks, Hitchcock Incorporated, Polaris and Rekluse.
Learn more about Wyoming Motorsports at www.wyomoto.com/.
The University of Wyoming has earned its Research Level 1 (R1) status from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, placing Wyoming's only four-year university with the top research universities in the United States.