Rubber band-powered racers hit Formula-E International Design Championship-China

The Formula-E International Design Championship-China was held in Beijing from June 10-11, attracting racers from Chinese top universities. One special feature about this competition is that all teams used cars with the same engine -- a five-meter-long rubber band, putting rigid demand on the stability of the racer.

The design championship is a battle of fast and furious on a smokeless battlefield. Held in a stadium at the Beijing University of Technology, the Formula-E China finals saw 36 teams from 17 universities across the country compete.

Experts believe the competition will help drive efforts to boost innovation.

"The contestants had comprehensive tests for the race, through charity activities, brand planning, team work, innovation and more. They now have a better understanding of the materials, techniques, engineering, and the combination of technology and art. They will apply their expertise to applications in various fields in the future,” said Liao Wei, deputy dean of the School of Art and Design of Beijing University of Technology.

The championship was first introduced to China by the Art Center College of Design in California. The organizers hope races like this will nurture more talent for China’s car manufacturing industry.

The annual event began in China in 2013, with thousands of university students competing. The top three teams in China are qualified to compete in the world finals, which will be held in the United States in August.