Técnico students and VINCI Energies in Portugal present the FST14

The Formula Student Lisbon team from Instituto Superior Técnico presented the FST14 – the latest electric and autonomous engineering prototype – the result of months of work and innovation.

The new car was unveiled at an event in Técnico’s Salão Nobre, which was perfectly prepared to welcome around 300 guests, including institutional representatives, partners and the academic community. The project, developed by Técnico students, once again has the main support of VINCI Energies in Portugal and also of its brands Actemium, Axians, Omexom and Sotécnica.

More than an evolution, the FST14 represents a true revolution in the team’s technical approach, featuring as the lightest car ever in the project, weighing around 200 kg, and incorporating cutting-edge innovations such as:
· Monocoque chassis redesigned for maximum rigidity and safety;
· New aerodynamic package, with significant advances in downforce and efficiency;
· Advanced damping system, designed for agility on the track;
· Autonomous driving pipeline, even more refined.

“Each system was designed to meet the high-performance standards we imposed on ourselves,” shares Nuno Lynce Silva, Team Leader at FST Lisboa. “The FST14 represents a turning point in our history – it is a prototype shaped by bold decisions, risky technical decisions and a relentless pursuit of performance,” he adds.

This year’s FST Lisboa team is made up of 61 students, most of whom are studying Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical and Computer Engineering at Técnico, and who are joined by students from other areas such as Economics and Industrial Management. The team was created in 2001 by a group of students to apply the theoretical knowledge they were learning in class. From the very beginning, they set out to design, build and test a new Formula car to participate in national and international Formula Student competitions, representing Portugal before other universities and companies. Today, they are an elite team from a top Portuguese school, participating in the world’s largest university engineering competition.

The philosophy behind the FST14 is clear: “innovate where necessary, evolve where possible and perfect every detail” — reflecting the bold spirit, precision and rigour of FST Lisbon. With this model, the team intends to once again position itself among the best in the world in international Formula Student competitions. Regarding the renewal of the main sponsorship of the project, part of the largest university engineering competition in the world,

Pedro Afonso, CEO of VINCI Energies Portugal, comments:
“We are proud to once again partner with FST Lisboa, a top engineering school project at a national level that, throughout its history, has developed engineering and leadership in several areas of activity. We see in this project – and in our partnership with Técnico – the reflection of our DNA: excellence, ambition, and entrepreneurial spirit. It is exactly this type of mentality that makes the energy transition and digital transformation that we have built as a business project happen. These young people, with a strong team spirit and selfless sense of mission, are an inspiration to everyone. In addition to their thirst for knowledge, they have sought, from an early age, to raise their standards and those of national innovation.”

Rogério Colaço, president of Técnico, states:
“Formula Student (FST) was the first group of Técnico students who dedicated themselves entirely to the design, development, production and testing of prototypes. FST14 symbolises Técnico’s impact on society. Through science and technology, our students build solutions for the challenges of the future, and this new prototype reinforces Técnico’s pioneering role in the innovation ecosystem in Portugal.”

Formula Student is currently the largest university engineering competition in the world and is often considered the most innovative in motorsport, right after Formula 1. Every year, university teams from all over the world are challenged to design, build and compete with formula-type prototypes in the main international races.

The competition is not won solely by the team with the fastest car, but by the overall quality of construction, performance, and financial and sales planning. The teams assume that they are a manufacturer developing a prototype to be evaluated for production.

The 14th prototype of the project reaches a top speed of 117 km/h with four AC electric motors with an electronic differential. It also has a battery composed of LiCoO2 (lithium-cobalt) cells and a total capacity of 6.33 kWh, protected by a casing made of composite materials.

In the previous season, 2024/25, the Técnico students’ model recorded its best results ever by winning 1st place in the Formula Student in Portugal, 2nd place in Spain, in the Autonomous category, and 7th place in Germany, in the electric category.

About VINCI Energies
In a world in constant change, VINCI Energies contributes to the environmental transition, promoting the main transformation trends in digital and energy. VINCI Energies teams integrate systems, services and customised solutions, from consulting to design, implementation, operation and maintenance. With strong local roots and an agile and innovative structure, VINCI Energies brands and business units are at the heart of their clients’ digital transformation and energy transition decisions, leveraging the reliability, efficiency and sustainability of their businesses. VINCI Energies promotes global performance, caring for the planet, serving people, and is committed to local communities.

In Portugal, VINCI Energies brings together the operations of the brands Actemium, Axians, Longo Plano, Omexom, Sotécnica and VINCI Facilities.

VINCI Energies in the world, in 2024: revenue of 20.4 billion euros // 102,600 employees // 61 countries

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