AUREL is part of the prestigious international Formula Student project, where university Teams design, build, and test their own racing single-seaters. The company works closely with the eForce Prague Formula team from the Czech Technical University in Prague, which achieves strong results at international competitions. At the AUREL Proving Ground, students test their electric and autonomous formula cars while gaining hands-on experience that opens doors to their future careers.
Formula Student brings together university teams from around the world
Formula Student teams build race cars with both combustion and electric drivetrains. In competitions, they are judged not only on speed and track performance but also on design quality, efficiency, sustainability, and overall project management. However, it’s not just about racing and winning – equally important are project leadership, securing funding, and building partnerships with industry.
eForce Prague Formula – a leader among university teams
The eForce Prague Formula team has been building student racing cars since 2008. Over time, they transitioned from combustion engines to electric drivetrains and eventually to autonomous systems. In 2020, the team introduced the first driverless formula car in the Czech Republic. Their first fully electric autonomous race car, the CTU.24, quickly achieved major successes – winning the autonomous category in both the Czech Republic and Italy, and securing third place at the largest competition in Germany.
This season, the Prague team kicked off with two bronzes
This year, the eForce Prague Formula team had the honor of presenting at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan – alongside representatives from AUREL. The students showcased their electric race car capable of autonomous driving, currently being tested at the AUREL Proving Ground. They launched their season at the prestigious Formula Student Netherlands competition, where with their brand-new CTU.25 car, they earned two bronze medals at the iconic TT Circuit Assen – in the Autocross and Engineering Design Event categories.
AUREL Proving Ground offers students the perfect testing ground
The university team has access to the entire AUREL Proving Ground and all its sections – the high-speed oval, ADAS track, dynamic pad, and steep inclines. The proving ground is also perfectly suited for the development and fine-tuning of autonomous systems. In preparation for Formula Student competitions, students practice these specific applications on site:
- Acceleration – Straight sections of the proving ground provide ideal conditions for measuring acceleration and tuning the car’s dynamics from start to maximum output.
- Skidpad – On the dynamic pad, lateral stability and grip in sharp turns can be tested – key for both safe and fast driving.
- Autocross & Endurance – The technical sections simulate a race track, verifying the car’s handling, reliability, and overall durability under long-term stress.
- Efficiency – Testing operations allow for monitoring energy consumption and optimizing efficiency – a decisive factor in both racing and real-world applications.
“There are only about ten teams worldwide that fully compete in the autonomous category – and we’re one of them. The AUREL Proving Ground is the best possible test track for us. It’s large enough for safe autonomous driving, and at the same time, we have access to a workshop, full facilities, and the ability to charge our batteries,” says Jan Cába, captain of the Prague team.
Sharing know-how and preparing students for real-world practice
Support at AUREL goes far beyond providing facilities. The company shares its valuable know-how and over 20 years of experience in vehicle development and testing – for example in durability testing, ADAS systems, simulations, scanning, and data analysis. This allows students to connect theory with practice, enhance their technical and project management skills, and prepare for real-world career challenges. As part of the collaboration, they also gain access to internships, professional placements, and the opportunity to work on their final theses under real development conditions.
The future of technology lies in young engineers
At AUREL, we are proud to support the next generation of engineers. It is essential for students to gain real-world experience already during their studies – and this project offers the perfect platform to prepare them for industry challenges. Within Formula Student, we also support the FS TUL Racing team from the Technical University of Liberec and are now planning new cooperation with the CTU LIONS motorcycle racing team. You’ll soon read more about their achievements on our blog.
Do you need professional testing facilities? The AUREL Proving Ground offers ideal conditions for testing vehicles, technologies, and autonomous systems. Get in touch with us and find out how we can support your project as well.
