Students race to innovate at Baja SAE International in Marana [Video]

MARANA, Ariz. (KGUN) — Engines roared and dirt flew as engineering students from across the world gathered this weekend at the Marana Pumpkin Patch for the SAE Baja International Design Competition.

The four-day event saw college teams race off-road recreational vehicles they spent the past year designing and building, combining innovation with hands-on learning. This included teams from the University of Arizona and Arizona State University, along with students from Brazil, Mexico, Canada and universities across the nation.

Now in its 49th year, the Baja SAE International is more than just a race. It challenges students to solve real-world engineering problems while fostering collaboration and technical skill.

“They have to design, build, and then race their cars,” said Josh Spivey, organizer of Baja SAE International. “It’s really engineering-minded, but it’s all about teamwork, learning how to do some real-world skills and having some fun.”

Each team is given specifications, such as motor types, that they …