WEST LAFAYETTE, IN — Each year, onlookers swarm the race track for the Purdue Grand Prix, but the lesser known evGrandPrix drew a new crowd to the packed stands this year.

Students from nine universities around the country and one from Canada descended on the checkered start line alongside the many Purdue teams to participate for the 15th year.

Brandon Rodarmel, Purdue senior in business analytics and information management, is the president of Purdue’s evGrandPrix student organization. Rodarmel said the race has grown in its transition to being student-led.

“We actually only have two engineering students out of our about 15-member group that helps to put it on,” Rodarmel said. “A lot of us come from different backgrounds, not just business, whether it's part of the College of Science or even the school of ag, we just all have a love of motor sports. Maybe our skills aren't best suited for building and racing the kart, but we still want to be able to contribute.”

Teams start working on the karts and batteries a year in advance, with new teams sometimes beginning even before that year’s winners are determined. For the evGrandPrix, contestants are judged on three components: race, design and efficiency.

“We offer a different kind of championship and a different ask of students. Ours allows students to use their imagination and use their skills in order to try and put something on track,” Rodarmel said. “We don't compete with gas Grand Prix, but we offer students a different way to apply the things they learned in the classroom.”

This year the Purdue kart 18, which is part of the integrated business and engineering program within the Daniel School of Business, won first overall. Oakland University kart 57, with its electric racing association, won second place. Purdue kart 66, with the electric vehicle club, won third place.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue evGrandPrix draws new crowd to race track