KALAMAZOO – Western Michigan University’s student Formula Racing Team recently completed the 2009 Formula SAE Michigan competition at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn,.

The team of 18 WMU students placed 42 overall out of 91 teams that competed May 13 to 16.

It was the first time in recent years that the team was able to complete all of the event’s challenges including technical inspection, cost, presentation, engineering design, solo performance and high performance track endurance where each team has to complete 20 laps in the least amount of time.

Organized by the Society of Automotive Engineers International, the concept of the Formula SAE competition is to challenge colleges and universities around the world to design and build a small-scale formula style racing car.

The WMU team in 2008 was not able to finish the endurance test of the event, but it was the first year the University qualified for all portions of the competition. The team entered but was not able to compete in all events in 2006 and 2003.

Dirk Hayford, Drivetrain leader on the Formula One Team is from Union, graduate of Edwardsburg Public Schools. His parents are Kim and Bob Prikosovich.

Dirk is entering his junior year at Western Michigan University in mechanical engineering.