Created: 2025.10.08. 14:05
Transitioning from engine supplier to car builder, the SZEngine student team of Széchenyi István University is embarking on a new chapter by developing its own vehicle and competing independently in the Formula Student series. At their latest event, the team revealed that it will continue its trademark powertrain development while also experimenting with hybrid technologies. The change of era is further symbolized by the fact that, departing from its previous approach, SZEngine will enter its first independent season with a turbocharged power unit based on the KTM 450.
Founded with the aim of developing custom-designed internal combustion racing engines for Formula Student teams, SZEngine quickly distinguished itself by taking on a role usually reserved for professional suppliers. This was an unprecedented venture within the Formula Student community, as no other student talent group had ever provided complete powertrains to a partner team from the same institution. For years, the team enjoyed a fruitful partnership with Széchenyi University’s Arrabona Racing Team, a collaboration marked by numerous successes. SZEngine’s reliable, high-performance and fuel-efficient engines consistently outperformed off-the-shelf alternatives with limited modification options. Meanwhile, the team continually pushed the limits of its engineering capability, producing a 3D-printed engine, experimenting with turbocharging and beginning to work on hybrid systems.
A turning point came last season when the Arrabona Racing Team decided to switch to electric propulsion, effectively ending the cooperation between the two groups. Soon after, the collaboration with OUR Team of Óbuda University also concluded, leaving the Győr-based engine development team without a partner. Faced with a new situation, SZEngine chose to take its destiny into its own hands and become a fully independent Formula Student team by designing and building its own car.
Members of the SZEngine Team (Photo: Gergely Nagy)
“It was important for us to continue doing what we love most: engine development,” said Gergő Zlatics, former leader of SZEngine. “Although we are now a car-building team, our focus on powertrains remains unchanged.” He added that the team will stay true to its traditions by continuing to compete in the internal combustion engine category. “Our organizational structure has changed insofar as we have established three new departments in addition to the existing six, dedicated exclusively to the vehicle. Recruitment is already under way, and we have received many applications,” he noted.
Gergő Zlatics presented a summary of the past year, which has defined the team’s future direction. (Photo: Gergely Nagy)
At the Design Freeze event, where SZEngine unveiled the plans for its first car and brand-new engine, Dr Péter Raffai, Head of the Department of Vehicle Propulsion Technology and Power Electronics, emphasized that SZEngine provides not only professional development but also personal growth for its student members, which is reflected both in their achievements and in the spirit of the community.
“We are proud that such high-quality, internationally recognized work is being carried out at Széchenyi István University,” Dr Raffai stated. “Our primary goal has never been simply to create the best engine, but to offer students practical training to complement their studies. I trust that their enthusiasm will remain undiminished in the future.” He added that Győr, the region, and the University itself have a long tradition in mechanical engineering and the automotive industry, which brings responsibility as well as prestige. “We have a responsibility to ensure continuous progress, to maintain high educational standards, and to support the engineers, researchers and developers shaping the technologies of tomorrow,” he said.
“The design freeze marks the beginning of a new stage, leading to production, testing, and ultimately competition,” emphasized Dr Péter Raffai. (Photo: András Adorján)
Dóra Kádár, team leader of SZEngine, briefly outlined the key features of the Formula Student competition, in which university teams must design and build a single-seat race car. The event is divided into two main categories: in the static disciplines, teams present the vehicle’s design and business concepts, while in the dynamic events they must prove performance on the track. The most demanding challenge is the Endurance race, requiring the car to cover 22 kilometres, including a driver change and technical inspection halfway through. Fuel consumption is measured in this event to assess engine efficiency.
According to team leader Dóra Kádár, the team has significantly expanded its network of sponsors over the past year. (Photo: András Adorján)
The first engine of the new era was presented by Olivér Posvanc, Head of Engine Design, who explained that the team has replaced its previous KTM 690-based power unit with a smaller KTM 450-based engine. “We chose this model because we found it better suited to turbocharging. With this change, we can achieve the same power output as before while reducing weight by almost 30 percent. We have designed our own crankcase to accommodate all uniquely manufactured or modified components, achieving further weight reduction,” he explained.
Switching to a different engine family is already a significant challenge, but SZEngine went further by developing a hybrid powertrain, combining internal combustion and electric propulsion. “The battery’s output places certain limits on use, so we primarily apply electric assistance during low-speed acceleration,” Posvanc said. “Thanks to our motor control system, we can use this power on the front axle to reduce understeer and oversteer, giving the driver smoother handling.”
“We placed great emphasis on designing an effective cooling system for the engine,” underlined Olivér Posvanc. (Photo: Gergely Nagy)
The team’s first vehicle was introduced by Gergő Péczely, Head of Vehicle Design, who emphasized that the project has taken them into completely new territory, requiring the creation of a new knowledge base from scratch. Progress, he said, is made step by step, with the primary goal being to have a fully functional car ready for the racing season.
“We had to decide whether to build a carbon composite self-supporting monocoque or a steel space frame. The former offers a better stiffness-to-weight ratio, but its manufacturing is far more complex, costly, and experience-intensive. For the latter, we already have the necessary technical equipment, and materials are easier to source, so we chose this option,” Péczely explained. The car will include only essential bodywork elements, with no side channels or wings planned at this stage.
“We entered the parameters of all vehicle components into the simulation software to begin our analysis. Based on this, the car achieved a 4.4-second acceleration time over the 75-metre segment specified by the regulations. For lap-time comparisons, we used the layout of the 2006 German Formula Student competition, when cars similar to ours were competing. With optimal setup, we found that our design could perform above the mid-field level,” he added.
Gergő Péczely considered the preliminary simulation results promising. (Photo: Gergely Nagy)
As for where the public might see the SZEngine car next summer, team leader Dóra Kádár revealed that they plan to compete in the hybrid category at Germany’s Formula Future competition, which focuses on alternative fuels. The team also intends to participate in Formula Student East, held in Hungary.
“There are many new developments within our team, but this also presents a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate what we can achieve when we work together toward a common goal,” Kádár said. “We hope to strengthen our position and continue creating innovative solutions — not only to achieve strong results, but also to foster the professional growth of our team members.”
The atrium of the Győr Innovation Park at Széchenyi István University was filled to capacity for the event. (Photo: Gergely Nagy)
