Zapopan, Jalisco; August 12, 2025.— With the goal of raising awareness among students at the Universidad Panamericana GuadalajaraUniversidad Panamericana and recruiting new members, the UP Racing and Lightning UP teams were actively involved during the first week of the school year.
Both university racing teams specialize in building single-seater race cars: UP Racing focuses on internal combustion engine cars, while Lightning UP focuses on electric cars.
Call for applications open to students in all majors
The invitation is open to students from any major, because while engineering is at the core of the project, projects of this scale require expertise from various disciplines to ensure optimal logistics and performance.
“We’re looking for people who want to stay with the team and help shape its future—committed individuals who are eager to learn and become part of this project,” said Carolina Contreras, head coach of Lightning UP.
Some of the different roles we are looking to fill, where talented individuals can contribute their skills, include:
- Engineering: vehicle design and construction.
- Administration: sponsorship and resource management.
- Communication and marketing: social media management and outreach.
- Law: assistance with drafting contracts and legal matters.
Practical experience and academic value
Being part of these teams is a unique experience that combines classroom learning with hands-on experience in automotive engineering, project management, and teamwork. Students can see their ideas turned into working vehicles and develop skills in leadership, innovation, and problem-solving.
Óscar Sánchez Barba Acevedo, M.Sc., director of Mechatronics, highlighted the satisfaction students feel when they see the results of their work, as in the case of a suspension system they designed that improves on-track performance.
Kickoff of the new season: what to expect this semester
Lightning UP is gearing up for a busy competition schedule. Unlike UP Racing, this team competes with an electric single-seater car, which allows it to race on specialized circuits.
After a year and a half of development, they will unveil their first electric vehicle on behalf of the Universidad Panamericana on October 4 at the Oscar Casillas Karting Track in Guadalajara, during the Western Trophy.
They will then compete in Monterrey at the Champions Trophy on November 7 and 8, with the goal of securing an invitation to the International Formula E in January, a prestigious electric single-seater racing series comparable in stature to Formula 1.
Meanwhile, UP Racing has begun building a new race car, inspired by its participation in the Formula SAE Michigan competition at the end of last semester, where it achieved the best results ever for a Mexican team.
The new design will incorporate improvements recommended by international judges, with the aim of maintaining its presence and competitiveness in future Formula SAE competitions.
Innovation and institutional support
The Universidad Panamericana promotes innovation and hands-on training through these projects, positioning itself as a leader in education focused on automotive engineering and sustainable mobility.
Thanks to the dedication of its students, UP Racing and Lightning UP continue to grow and represent the university in national and international competitions.
Learn more about the School of Engineering at the Universidad Panamericana : https://www.up.edu.mx/educacion-universidad-facultad-de-ingenieria/
