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Momentum in Motion: Progress on UT26
UTFR monthly is the University of Toronto Formula Racing team's newsletter, giving you insight into our latest developments, achievements, and behind-the-scenes action.
Rohan Sadekar
November 07, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes
Welcome back!
October has been a productive month for University of Toronto Formula Racing. From helping host the Toronto Shootout to making progress on UT26’s design, the shop has been alive with collaboration and focus. With new components arriving and exciting events on the horizon, the team continues to move full speed ahead.
In this edition:
Toronto Shootout Recap
UT26 Design Progress
New Inverters Arrive at the Shop
Pit Lane Perspectives: Mechanical Technical Director Mauro De Liberato
UTFR x SAE: Reliability and AI in Automotive
Let’s get started.
Toronto Shootout Recap
On October 4, UTFR helped host the annual Toronto Shootout at Brechin Motorsport Park. 15 university teams joined us for a day of testing, tuning, and collaboration on track.
The Shootout has become a key event for student teams across Canada, offering a rare chance to push cars to their limits outside competition season. For UTFR, it’s also an opportunity to reconnect with the community and contribute to an event that helps strengthen Formula SAE in Canada.
Toronto Shootout Group Photo
A special highlight this year was seeing our UT21 car make a return to the track, brought out by UTFR alumni, Kyle McCarroll and Damian Sisera. Watching past and present members share the paddock was a great reminder of the lasting bonds built through this team and the spirit that continues to drive it forward.
UT21 about to go on track at Toronto Shootout
Design Progress
Back at the shop, the team has been hard at work finalizing designs for UT26. Every section has been deep in simulation, packaging, and integration work as we lock in details before manufacturing begins.
The transition to four-wheel drive has made this design cycle one of the most challenging and rewarding in recent memory. The level of collaboration between our electrical and mechanical teams has been key to ensuring that every system fits together seamlessly. With major milestones approaching, the team is focused on refinement, turning ideas and CAD models into the next generation of UTFR performance.
New Inverters Arrive at the Shop
This month, we also received a major upgrade to our electrical system, new inverters generously provided by Deutsche Hydrapro. These will serve as a crucial part of UTFR’s upcoming four-wheel drive powertrain, allowing precise control and distribution of power to each motor.
This addition not only supports our move toward more advanced drivetrain architecture but also opens the door for better traction control, improved handling, and higher overall performance. We’re deeply thankful to Deutsche Hydrapro for their continued support and partnership.
Team Captain Eric Emmenegger and Electrical Director Mehar Singh showing off the team’s inverters
Pit Lane Perspectives: Mechanical Technical Director Mauro De Liberato
This issue, we sat down with UTFR’s Mechanical Technical Director, Mauro De Liberato, to talk about what keeps the team grounded as it tackles one of its most ambitious builds yet. From a complete redesign of the car to the lessons learned from years of late nights in the shop, Mauro’s story is one of patience, teamwork, and constant growth.
Mechanical Technical Director, Mauro De Liberato
Finding His Place in the Shop
Mauro joined UTFR in 2022 after realizing he wanted more than lectures and labs. “I was always interested in cars and machines,” he says. “I wanted to actually build something. Something that made me feel like an engineer.”
At first, he found himself working with the Electric Powertrain team, but he soon became curious about the mechanical side. “I got to know a few people in chassis and started spending more time around that part of the car,” he says. “One day I helped with some welding and just never stopped coming back.”
From there, Mauro learned the ropes of mechanical design and manufacturing, eventually becoming Chassis Lead by his third year. “That experience taught me how connected everything is,” he explains. “Every system depends on another. You start to see how the whole car really works together.”
Mauro De Liberato welding UT24
A Rebuild from the Ground Up
This season, UTFR’s mechanical team is taking on something entirely new. “It’s the first time since I joined that we’ve torn the mechanical design apart and rebuilt it from the ground up,” Mauro says.
We’ve torn apart the mechanical design and rebuilt it from the ground up
The biggest change is the move to four wheel drive. "That shift changes everything, the implementation of in hub motors forces us to completely redesign our corner assemblies, but opens up new opportunity for more optimized packaging within the frame. It's a complete redesign with a lot more freedom than we are used to."
The new system adds complexity but also brings huge potential for performance. “It’s a lot of work, but that’s what makes it exciting,” Mauro says. “You only move forward when you’re willing to take on something that scares you a little.”
The team is also pushing into new territory with composite materials. “We’re designing our first composite accumulator,” he says. “We’re also replacing some of our steel parts with lighter materials. It’s all about building a faster car without losing reliability.”
Balancing Reliability and Innovation
For Mauro, reliability is the foundation of everything. “You can design the fastest car in the world, but it means nothing if it doesn’t cross the finish line,” he says.
Reliability comes first. The car has to finish the race
That mindset shapes every design decision. “We want to chase performance, but never at the cost of consistency,” he explains. “The best car is one you can trust to run every time you press the button.”
Mauro in UT23 with Formula Hybrid + Electric Trophy
Part of that reliability comes from communication. “The most effective way to solve problems is still to sit down in the same room and talk,” he says. “I try not to micromanage. People learn more when they’re given space to figure things out. My job is to guide them and make sure we’re moving in the same direction.”
Lessons from the Industry
During his co-op at Litens, Mauro worked on prototype battery packs and electric water pumps, projects that taught him the value of structure and organization. “Industry work showed me how important it is to document everything,” he says. “At UTFR we do great work, but sometimes we move so fast that we forget to slow down and record what we’re doing. Being organized makes your work easier to build on later.”
That mindset has shaped how he leads the team now. “In our composite testing, we’ve been making a big effort to keep things clean, labeled, and consistent,” he says. “When you stay organized, you start noticing patterns and that helps you design better.”
Pushing Beyond the Comfort Zone
When asked about his goals for the year, Mauro doesn’t hesitate. “I want people to get comfortable being uncomfortable,” he says with a grin. “That’s where the best ideas come from.”
We’re rewriting the script this year, questioning what’s been done before and why
He also has advice for new recruits joining the team. “Just get involved,” he says. “It doesn’t matter where you start. Show up, learn, and ask questions. People here will teach you everything you need to know if you show that you care.”
Even with all the demands of leading the mechanical side, Mauro finds time to disconnect. “I like hiking, biking, just being around friends,” he says. “It helps me reset and see things more clearly.”
Looking ahead to graduation, he’s keeping his plans open. “I might go to grad school, maybe work full time. I’m still figuring it out,” he says. “But whatever I do next, the lessons I’ve learned here are going to stay with me. You learn how to think, how to lead, and how to trust the people around you.”
You can connect with Mauro on LinkedIn.
UTFR x SAE: Reliability and AI in Automotive
Later this fall, UTFR is teaming up with SAE to host a special lecture event featuring Dr. Jay Zhou, a renowned SAE and ASQ Fellow with decades of experience in automotive product development and quality engineering.
Dr. Zhou spent much of his career with Ford Motor Company, where he served in senior technical and leadership roles, including Vice President of Ford Asia Pacific and Corporate Executive Technical Leader. With over 30 technical papers, a patent in vehicle durability, and numerous international awards, his work has shaped the automotive landscape worldwide.
The event will explore two key topics, Electric Vehicle Reliability and AI Applications in the Automotive Industry. Dr. Zhou will share insights into EV system design, reliability engineering, and how artificial intelligence is transforming every stage of the automotive process, from design and testing to manufacturing and operations.
We’re proud to co-host this event with SAE and look forward to bringing students, professionals, and enthusiasts together for an evening of learning and discussion on the future of electric and intelligent vehicles.
We're always looking to improve and innovate, both on and off the track. Have any thoughts on this newsletter? Ideas for future content? We want to hear from you!