Donate Now

You can make a charitable donation to our team right now by visiting the LU FSAE giving page. Click here for link. ​

Who We Are

Thunder Wolf Racing is Lakehead University's Formula SAE team. We are a group of twenty Mechanical Engineering students that are designing and manufacturing a Formula style race car. Our student run team undertakes this project every year with the intention of competing at the Formula SAE Collegiate Design Series. The event will be held May of 2023 in Brooklyn, Michigan. Our car will represent Lakehead University, competing against universities from around the world at this highly regarded competition. Please visit our Support Us page for information on supporting our team.

What is Formula SAE?

Formula SAE is an international competition that challenges teams of university/college students to conceive, design, finance, manufacture and compete with a small, formula-style vehicle. The FSAE competition is one of the largest engineering competitions in the world, and allows students to apply theoretical knowledge to solve real-world engineering problems. Judging is based on a variety of events, including static and dynamic, as well as the presentation and cost of the vehicle. The end result is a practical engineering experience for students that is transferable to a wide range of jobs in industry. 

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2022-2023 Team Objectives

• ​​Gather a team of highly motivated Lakehead University students that are willing to build a stellar reputation for Thunder Wolf Racing
• Develop an organization that runs effectively by highlighting the skills of each team member
• Accurately emulate the business workings of a built-to-order automotive manufacturer
• Design and build a winning car that will put us in high regard at the Michigan FSAE competition in May

Side View

Top View

Front View

Technical Aspects of the FSAE Project

Materials - Optimum material selection is critical to the success of any Formula SAE team. Various grades of steel and aluminum are used to produce the lightest and strongest car possible
3D Modelling - Solidworks and a variety of other simulation software are used to design and test every part of the car. Building a 3D model also allows the team to ensure that all sections of the car are compatible before being built
Vehicle Dynamics - A race car is a very complex system requiring very precise attention to detail. Fundamental knowledge and experience are combined to ensure that every component is working to improve the dynamics of the vehicle
Stress Analysis - Through hand calculations and Finite Element Analysis, every component of the car is verified to ensure its safety and reliability
Manufacturing - The entire car is built in-house by the team of students. Processes such as welding, machining, and assembling take place in the Thunder Wolf Racing shop located on the Thunder Bay campus.