The Purdue team won the 15th annual evGrandPrix, competing against participants from nine universities. The race took place on April 18, 2026, at the Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Key points
Purdue team wins the 15th annual evGrandPrix
Race held on April 18, 2026
Nine universities participated
Event took place at Purdue Grand Prix Track
Jim Bullard served as grand marshal
Mentioned in this story
West Lafayette
Purdue Grand Prix TrackPurdueevGrandPrix
Purdue team wins evGrandPrix final out of contestants from 9 universities
The 15th annual evGrandPrix race kicked off a bit after 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind. Jim Bullard, dean of the Purdue Daniels School of Business was the grand marshal.
Driver Sia Belani prepares for the race on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind. Belani raced with the Motorsports at Purdue team.
Cristian Grover from Purdue University drives during the race on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind. The race was 50 laps.
Pit crew teams prepare to race on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind. The teams work for a year or more to build their car and battery ahead of the race.
Q&A
Which university won the 2026 evGrandPrix?
The Purdue team won the 2026 evGrandPrix.
How many universities participated in the 2026 evGrandPrix?
Nine universities participated in the 2026 evGrandPrix.
When was the 2026 evGrandPrix race held?
The 2026 evGrandPrix race was held on April 18, 2026.
Where did the 2026 evGrandPrix take place?
The 2026 evGrandPrix took place at the Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Indiana.
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Matt Poser, incoming captain for next year's team for Queen's University, talks to a teammate through the fence on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind. Queen's University is in Kingston, Ontario Canada.
Carson Bowers, right, waits for the race to begin on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind. Bowers is a freshman at Purdue studying business management.
From left, Sabrina Yang, Andy Ma and Lisa Luo cheer as the race ends and kart 18, which is part of the integrated business and engineering program within the Daniel School of Business, won the race on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind. Yang and Luo are friends, and Luo's daughter, who is a Purdue student, was there, too.
From right, Elke Roser, Katie Cannon, Emerson Phillips and Samuel Pridemore push their kart to its spot for the starting grid on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind. Alex Davis drove the kart during the race.
Battery-powered karts race around the track on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind. There were teams representing universities across the country in addition to various student organizations at Purdue.
Alyssa Borbath poses for a portrait on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind. Borbath was on the pit crew for the Purdue Electric Vehicle Club.
Driver Ilias Kalliakmanis with the Purdue Electric Vehicle Club talks to people outside the fenced-in area after the race on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind.
The stands were packed with spectators at the start of the 15th annual evGrandPrix on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind. This year there were over 200 people participating as a volunteer or on a racing team.
Driver Jose Barrios, right, rounds the corner of the track on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind. Barrios' team was with the Electric Racing Association at Oakland University from Michigan.
Pit crew members talk with people outside the track on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind.
Driver Zach Hochhauser walks back to the pit after winning the race on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind. This is Hochhauser's rookie year.
1 / 15
Purdue’s evGrandPrix draws packed stands, contestants from 9 universities
The 15th annual evGrandPrix race kicked off a bit after 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind. Jim Bullard, dean of the Purdue Daniels School of Business was the grand marshal.
1 / 15
Purdue’s evGrandPrix draws packed stands, contestants from 9 universities
The 15th annual evGrandPrix race kicked off a bit after 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind. Jim Bullard, dean of the Purdue Daniels School of Business was the grand marshal.
2 / 15
Purdue’s evGrandPrix draws packed stands, contestants from 9 universities
Driver Sia Belani prepares for the race on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind. Belani raced with the Motorsports at Purdue team.
3 / 15
Purdue’s evGrandPrix draws packed stands, contestants from 9 universities
Cristian Grover from Purdue University drives during the race on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind. The race was 50 laps.
4 / 15
Purdue’s evGrandPrix draws packed stands, contestants from 9 universities
Pit crew teams prepare to race on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind. The teams work for a year or more to build their car and battery ahead of the race.
5 / 15
Purdue’s evGrandPrix draws packed stands, contestants from 9 universities
Matt Poser, incoming captain for next year's team for Queen's University, talks to a teammate through the fence on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind. Queen's University is in Kingston, Ontario Canada.
6 / 15
Purdue’s evGrandPrix draws packed stands, contestants from 9 universities
Carson Bowers, right, waits for the race to begin on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind. Bowers is a freshman at Purdue studying business management.
7 / 15
Purdue’s evGrandPrix draws packed stands, contestants from 9 universities
From left, Sabrina Yang, Andy Ma and Lisa Luo cheer as the race ends and kart 18, which is part of the integrated business and engineering program within the Daniel School of Business, won the race on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind. Yang and Luo are friends, and Luo's daughter, who is a Purdue student, was there, too.
8 / 15
Purdue’s evGrandPrix draws packed stands, contestants from 9 universities
From right, Elke Roser, Katie Cannon, Emerson Phillips and Samuel Pridemore push their kart to its spot for the starting grid on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind. Alex Davis drove the kart during the race.
9 / 15
Purdue’s evGrandPrix draws packed stands, contestants from 9 universities
Battery-powered karts race around the track on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind. There were teams representing universities across the country in addition to various student organizations at Purdue.
10 / 15
Purdue’s evGrandPrix draws packed stands, contestants from 9 universities
Alyssa Borbath poses for a portrait on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind. Borbath was on the pit crew for the Purdue Electric Vehicle Club.
11 / 15
Purdue’s evGrandPrix draws packed stands, contestants from 9 universities
Driver Ilias Kalliakmanis with the Purdue Electric Vehicle Club talks to people outside the fenced-in area after the race on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind.
12 / 15
Purdue’s evGrandPrix draws packed stands, contestants from 9 universities
The stands were packed with spectators at the start of the 15th annual evGrandPrix on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind. This year there were over 200 people participating as a volunteer or on a racing team.
13 / 15
Purdue’s evGrandPrix draws packed stands, contestants from 9 universities
Driver Jose Barrios, right, rounds the corner of the track on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind. Barrios' team was with the Electric Racing Association at Oakland University from Michigan.
14 / 15
Purdue’s evGrandPrix draws packed stands, contestants from 9 universities
Pit crew members talk with people outside the track on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind.
15 / 15
Purdue’s evGrandPrix draws packed stands, contestants from 9 universities
Driver Zach Hochhauser walks back to the pit after winning the race on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Purdue Grand Prix Track in West Lafayette, Ind. This is Hochhauser's rookie year.
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.
