Who We Are
FTAD exists to develop the next generation of technical leaders by challenging high school students to build and run professional racing organizations. Engineering, business, and competition are not separate tracks — they are one integrated experience.
Three Pillars
Every FTAD chapter operates across three domains simultaneously. No pillar is optional — this is what separates FTAD from conventional student engineering programs.
Engineering
Teams design and optimize physical car elements using CAD tools and simulation data. Engineering decisions directly affect on-track outcomes.
Entrepreneurship
Teams build real brands, secure partnerships, and manage finances. Business is not supplementary — it is essential to how the organization operates.
Competition
FPV-piloted vehicles compete on custom tracks with data-informed decisions. No team can win on car performance alone — engineering, business, and strategy carry equal weight.
“Students pitch partners, run budgets, design their own cars, and basically deliver a real, competitive product.”
There is no separation between learning and doing. Most programs isolate engineering from business — students build things, but someone else handles funding, branding, and communication. In FTAD, those responsibilities fall on the team. Engineering, entrepreneurship, and competition carry equal weight. Students who go through this process leave with a fundamentally different understanding of how technical work gets done in the real world.
Core Values
Precision
Every design decision matters. We hold ourselves to engineering-grade standards in both competition and conduct.
Integrity
We compete honestly, collaborate openly, and represent our chapters with the same discipline we bring to the track.
Innovation
We push the boundaries of what student-built systems can achieve — not just to win, but to learn how to solve hard problems.
Teamwork
FTAD is built on chapters, not individuals. Shared ownership, shared wins, and shared accountability define how we operate.
Find Your Place in FTAD
For Students
Compete, build, and grow as an engineer and leader in a professional-caliber program built for high school teams.
For Volunteers
Bring your expertise to the grid and shape the next generation of builders.
For Partners
Invest in students solving real engineering and business problems. Build relationships with emerging technical talent.
“The competition was about whether your entire team can pull something off together. The car is just where it all shows up.” — FTAD StudentOur Full Story