2016 marked the 5th annual Formula North formula student competition held at the Molson Centre in Barrie.

This year, 26 teams took part in the competition, which included 23 internal combustion powered cars, plus 3 electric cars, including an entry from Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic.

The premise of a Formula Student competition is for each school to create a car for the weekend autocross market, and competitions are divided into “Static” & “Dynamic” events, with Static events being the business side of the competition and include design, cost and presentation, while the Dynamic events are on the track and include Skidpad, Acceleration, Autocross, Endurance and Fuel Efficiency. All teams are rated and totalled for each event, with the overall highest point total declared the winner.

This year, there was an electric category, which drew 3 entries, 2 from Quebec and 1 all the way from the Czech Republic. The Czech team was outstanding all competition long and easily won the electric competition. The Czech's finished 2nd in the combined Static competitions, but thoroughly dominated the Dynamic events, the only team to survive and score points in all 5 Dynamic events.

In the traditional internal combustion class, the competition was much tighter with the first US team to take the championship University of Missouri Science and Technology, edging out Laval and Western to take top stop. 2 time, and defending champs École de Technologie Supérieure ended up finishing 12th after a disappointing run in the Dynamic events, including a DNF in the Endurance competition.

The driving talent at Formula North, especially at the top end, is often quite high, but may have reached a peak, at least while I've been attending, with Western's addition of former Formula BMW and Indy Lights driver Philip Major, adding strength to a driver line up that already included US & Canadian karting champion Michael Hogg.

An interesting note about the quality of cars was brought up when chatting with Major after our on-air interview (listen below) about his first impression of the Formula SAE car Western had produced. Sitting in the car for the first time, he told me he realized quite quickly that there was more technology in this car than there was in the Indy Lights cars he drove in 2010.

Formula North is always one of my favourite events. I love the variety of cars and engineering, the relaxed, fun atmosphere that usually accompanies a few hundred university students competing against each other. There's always some great photo opportunities with some pretty cool looking cars and a ton of support from all the folks that put Formula North together each year. I've already got my credential booked for 2017, can't wait to go back!

RaceCanada had a chance to talk to a number of competitors at the close of competition this year, so take a listen below. (Unfortunately we caught up with Tech Inspectors Roger Lobo and Jeff Turner outside, between cars rolling into their tech inspection area just as the wind really picked up, so we apologize for the less-than-great audio and all the wind noise)

Interviews with the University of Western Ontario

Interviews With Carleton University

Tech Inspection Interviews

Final Results - Combustion

Final Results - Electric