Led by Irvine high school student Charles Wu, Team SW1FT swept the 2026 STEM Racing U.S. National Finals—winning the national championship and four top awards: Best Engineered Car, Fastest Car, Best Verbal Presentation, and Sustainability.
Held in Charlotte, North Carolina, the competition drew 34 teams and over 100 students from across the country.
Speed Triumphs · Engineering Prevails
Facing the nation’s top teams, three-member Team SW1FT took on engineering, manufacturing, management, and presentation duties—then delivered the fastest run of the competition at 1.132 seconds, earning a spot at the 2026 STEM Racing World Finals.
The record was built through relentless testing and refinement, from aerodynamics and structural design to material selection and precision manufacturing.
“This national title reflects countless tests, setbacks, and improvements,” said team captain Charles Wu. “We hope our journey inspires more young students to pursue STEM and believe they, too, can reach the world stage.”
Experts Applaud · Industry Watches
Founded in August 2024, Team SW1FT reached the World Finals in its debut 2025 season, advancing through the West Coast Regional and U.S. National Finals before winning the international Sponsorship and Marketing Award.
In 2026, the team set the nation’s fastest time at 1.132 seconds, swept four major awards, and captured the U.S. national championship.
The team’s success also drew praise from leading motorsports and engineering professionals, including Cadillac Formula 1 Team CIO Gary Foote and experts from General Motors, who recognized its technical excellence, innovative thinking, and professionalism.
Partners Empower · Resources Expand
Beyond engineering, Team SW1FT has excelled in business development and team management.
Under Charles Wu’s leadership, the team secured support from the Gene Haas Foundation, Roland DGA, and SprintRay, gaining funding, technical expertise, and advanced manufacturing resources.
These partnerships gave Team SW1FT hands-on experience across the full product-development cycle—from design and manufacturing to testing and marketing—bridging classroom learning with real-world industry practice.
Giving Back · STEM Grows
Beyond competition, Team SW1FT remains committed to youth STEM education.
Now in its second year partnering with the South Coast Chinese Cultural Center, the team shares its racing and engineering experience through summer camps, workshops, demonstrations, and community events.
By sharing its journey, Team SW1FT hopes to spark young minds and turn success on the podium into inspiration for the next generation.
Nations Unite · World Awaits
As U.S. national champions, Team SW1FT will represent the United States at the STEM Racing World Finals in Singapore this October.
For the World Finals, Charles Wu is partnering with UK finalist SBA Ancor and recruiting students from across the United States.
The expanded team will combine engineering, business, branding, sustainability, and project management to compete against the world’s best.
From a three-student team to U.S. national champions, Team SW1FT has shown that greatness is measured not by size, but by innovation, trust, and perseverance.
With speed driving their dreams and engineering powering their journey, these young students are racing toward the world.
