Virtual testing takes center stage in Croatia

From August 18 to 23, 2026, IPG Automotive will be present at the Bugatti Rimac Proving Ground in Mičevec, Croatia, for Formula Student Alpe Adria (FSAA). The event will host over 80 teams and 2,000 participants and is scaled to be the largest Formula Student competition of the summer season.  

To bridge the gap between academic theory and industry application, we are bringing our CarMaker simulation platform directly into the paddock through the Virtual Autocross Competition (AutoX), where the teams will have the possibility to drive our driving simulators for EV and ICE-powered FS cars.   

The 2026 Virtual Autocross Competition  

Our collaboration with FSAA has systematically grown from remote virtual environments to physical, on-site driving simulator challenges. The 2026 Virtual Autocross Competition gives drivers the opportunity to train and demonstrate their driving skills in a standardized environment, where hardware parameters are identical for all participants.  

All operators drive identical virtual vehicles under exact, controlled conditions, eliminating hardware advantages. To make it even more exciting, we will feature head-to-head race executed live on the main stage during the final phase of the Virtual Autocross Competition.  

The simulation environment utilizes a precise digital twin of the FSAA Autocross and Endurance Track layouts. By integrating CarMaker into the competition, students gain direct, hands-on experience with the exact simulation architecture used by top-tier OEMs, directly translating their academic work into relevant engineering skills. For IPG Automotive, the event provides a valuable opportunity to engage and exchange ideas with the next generation of systems engineers. We are looking forward to meeting all the student teams! 

Click the link for more information about the Virtual Autocross Competition.