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A dedicated team of engineering students from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) has successfully designed and built a high-performance Formula SAE race car that will represent Malaysia at the upcoming 24th Student Formula Japan 2026
Developed over 13 months, the single-seater race car, dubbed PUTRA 2, will compete against top university teams from around the world at the Aichi Sky Expo in Japan from 2 to 7 August.
The ambitious project involved 73 engineering undergraduates working under the guidance of 10 academic advisors and five university technical staff.
During the vehicle's official launch, UPM Vice-Chancellor Datuk Prof Ir Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd. Sadullah said the development of PUTRA 2 reflects the university's role in creating industrial value while equipping students with practical engineering skills.
Marking UPM's fourth entry into the prestigious global competition, the project demonstrates how technical education can evolve to meet complex real-world challenges
From a technical standpoint, PUTRA 2 was built with a lightweight chromoly steel spaceframe chassis and a custom-fabricated composite carbon fibre body.
It features a push-rod suspension system designed to maximise stability and improve handling on tight racing circuits.
Powering the vehicle is a 693cc CFMOTO 700MT powertrain, which the students tuned to produce 72 horsepower and 61Nm of maximum torque.
The team also refined the intake, exhaust, and drivetrain geometries using advanced computational fluid dynamics and stress simulation software to ensure the car met strict international regulatory standards.
The engineering hurdles required immense resilience from the students, who had to balance financial limitations with tight project deadlines
Putra Motorsport Team captain Aliman Zafran Yuslaimi, a 23-year-old final-year mechanical engineering student, said these challenges push the crew to achieve its biggest technical leap yet.
Under his leadership, the team successfully integrated an end-to-end Data Acquisition (DAQ) architecture and a bespoke aerodynamic wings package that demanded extensive technical coordination.
Putra Motorsport Team captain Aliman Zafran Yuslaimi.
Image via KosmoPrimary driver Muhammad Fadhlin Mohd Fuaad expressed confidence in the updated setup, noting that mechanical updates have yielded a significantly more stable and responsive steering profile compared with their previous vehicle, PUTRA 1.
While the onboard digital sensors provide real-time telemetry back to the pit wall, Fadhlin emphasised that driver feedback remains crucial in assessing track conditions and helping the team maximise the vehicle's performance.
Developed with a total budget of RM118,787, the race car represents a successful strategic partnership between academia and industry players
The project received major financial support from Embun Karisma Resources Sdn Bhd, with Ranhill Berhad and CFMOTO serving as gold and platinum sponsors, respectively.
Guided by their official team motto, "Once Throttled, Move Forward", the engineering team is now fully prepared to showcase Malaysian automotive innovation on the global stage.
