Formula SAE Event to Move to Lincoln, Nebraska, in 2012

WARRENDALE, Pa., Feb. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SAE International announced that, effective in 2012, the Formula SAE (FSAE) California will be relocated to Lincoln Airpark in Lincoln, NE. The event will be renamed Formula SAE Lincoln. For the 2011 competition season, FSAE California will remain at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.  

The change in venue was made, in part, because the new site offers excellent space and facility features. Lincoln Airpark has 90 continuous acres of concrete that easily will house all of the FSAE courses, team paddocks and support facilities. The size and quality of the site also provides the flexibility to revise the FSAE layout to improve the event courses, provide better team support and accommodate future growth.  In addition, Lincoln Airpark offers a better spectator experience to teams, their families and the public.

"We've had a great run at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana. And we very much appreciate the support they gave us over the years. We've had some tremendous competitions at that site," Robert Sechler, Director, Education Relations, SAE International, said. "But the change to Lincoln Airpark makes sense because it offers us the flexibility to do more with schedules and course layouts and offer more to the competitors, spectators and volunteers. We look forward to what the future holds."

In addition to the excellence of the site itself, Lincoln is located close to the geographic center of the lower 48 states, which will cut the driving distance for many teams.

"We really feel that this is a win-win for all involved," Sechler added. "We're confident that FSAE Lincoln will build SAE International's tradition of outstanding competitions and attract a high level of team support."

The Sports Car Club of America(SCCA) holds its Solo National Championship at Lincoln Airpark each year and will be actively supporting FSAE Lincoln with equipment and course marshals.  

For more information on Formula SAE and all of SAE International's student design competitions, visit http://students.sae.org/competitions/. For more information about the 2011 Formula SAE® California competition, visit http://students.sae.org/competitions/formulaseries/west/.

SAE International is a global association of more than 128,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries. SAE International's core competencies are life-long learning and voluntary consensus standards development. SAE International's charitable arm is the SAE Foundation, which supports many programs, including A World In Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series.

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Contact: Shawn Andreassi of SAE International, 1-724-772-8522 or [email protected]

SOURCE SAE International