RS South Africa, a trading brand of RS Group plc (LSE: RS1), a global provider of product and service solutions, is excited to announce that entries are now open for the Formula Student RS Build Fund 2026. This initiative is designed to equip university engineering teams worldwide with the resources they need to take on one of the most prestigious challenges in student motorsport. Successful applicants will receive £1,000 worth of RS products (or local currency equivalent) to support the design, construction, and refinement of their Formula Student car.
“Formula Student continues to be an incredible launchpad for young engineers, giving them real-world exposure to innovation, technical problem-solving, and teamwork,” says Wesley Hood, Education and Social Impact Specialist at RS South Africa. “Through the Build Fund, we help reduce financial pressure and enable students to focus on what matters most, pushing creativity and engineering capability even further.”
For more than 25 years, Formula Student has challenged university teams to design, build, and race a single-seat race car, all while mastering essential industry skills. Beyond engineering, the competition requires students to manage budgets, adhere to strict technical and safety guidelines, refine their presentation and communication skills, and collaborate within multidisciplinary teams. This makes Formula Student one of the world’s most comprehensive technical development platforms for aspiring engineers.
Hood adds, “Building a Formula Student car is both technically complex and financially demanding. By providing access to critical components and equipment, RS enables teams to stay focused on innovation, performance, and practical skill-building.”
Expanded Support for 2026: Introducing RS PRO Bonus Funding
In addition to the standard Build Fund, RS is proud to introduce a new opportunity for the 2026 competition: RS PRO Bonus Funding, where five teams will be selected to receive an additional £1,000 worth of RS PRO products (including VAT) to further enhance their builds. To be considered, teams simply need to select the RS PRO Bonus Funding option on the application form and explain how RS PRO products will support the engineering, development, and performance of their vehicle.
Applications open on 5 November and close on 20 January, with winners announced on 5 February. Teams simply need to outline their goals, team structure, the technical skills they are developing, and how they plan to use the fund to strengthen their competition performance.
For any questions about the Formula Student Build Fund, reach out to the RS youth community team at: youthcommunity@rs.rsgroup.com.
Discover more about how RS is empowering the next generation of innovators on their website. For ongoing updates, follow them on LinkedIn.
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About RS
RS is a global product and service solutions provider for industrial customers, enabling them to operate efficiently and sustainably.
We operate in 36 markets, stock over 800,000 industrial and specialist products and list an additional five million relevant for our industrial customers, sourced from over 2,500 suppliers. This extensive range supports our customers across the industrial lifecycle of designing, building, and maintaining equipment and operations. We enhance their experience through a tailored service model, leveraging our efficient physical, digital and process infrastructure sustainably. We combine a technically led and digitally enabled approach with an exceptional team of experts; ultimately, it’s our people that make the difference.
Our purpose, making amazing happen for a better world, reflects our focus on delivering results for people planet and profit.
RS Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange with stock ticker RS1 and in the year ended 31 March 2024 reported revenue of £2,942 million.
For more information, please visit: www.rsonline.co.za
PR contact details:
PR Contact Person – RS South Africa:
Princess Tlou
Communications & Content Specialist
RS South Africa
+27 11 691 9366
Media Contact Person – NGAGE Agency:
Thobile Ndlovu
PR Account Executive
+27 11 867 7763
Further information is available via these links:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rs-south-africa
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rssouthafrica
- X: https://twitter.com/RSOnlineSA
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Wesley Hood, Education and Social Impact Specialist, RS South Africa - RS Formula Student Build Fund 2026_approved
RS Formula Student Build Fund 2026_approved
