The Formula Student France competition brings students undergoing automotive engineering training, during which they must build a single-seater formula-style car to compete with teams from around the world. The international design competition is not won solely by the team with the fastest car, but rather by the team presenting the best overall combination of construction, performance, and financial and business planning.

Teams immerse themselves in the role of a manufacturer by developing a prototype for evaluation and potential production. The car must exhibit excellent driving characteristics such as acceleration, braking, and maneuverability. It must be offered at a very reasonable cost and be reliable.

The market value of the car increases through other factors such as aesthetics, comfort, and the use of easily available standard purchased components.

Teams will be judged by a panel of experts from the motorsport, automotive, and supplier industries. The jury will assess each team’s car and sales plan based on construction, cost planning, and business presentation. The remainder of the evaluation will take place on the track, where students will demonstrate, through a series of performance tests, how well their self-built cars perform in their real-world environment.