The world last saw K.I.T.T. fighting crime in the 1980s NBC television series Knight Rider. This year, the car of the future comes back to kickstart Future Rider: A Shell Eco-marathon Challenge. STEM students from around the world will be on a mission to create a sustainable, energy-efficient car designed for a modern world. With imagination as the only limit, how will an iconic car of the ‘80s inspire the car of the future once again?

In the ‘80s, K.I.T.T., short for Knight Industries Two Thousand, was the car of the future. It was the fastest, safest and strongest in the world, equipped with auto collision avoidance, autonomous driving, voice recognition and other cutting-edge features. What would the car of the future look like today?

First, student teams will provide a 60-second motivation video to introduce themselves and share their interest in the challenge. To present their ideas, students will submit another 60-second submission video starring their car of the future and a written report detailing the more technical aspects.

No. K.I.T.T. was designed to be the car of the future. Engineered to be the fastest, safest and strongest car in the world. Using that as inspiration, imagine your own vehicle of the future, proposing innovative upgrades and new features. Will the car of the future lose the old dot matrix printer? Get a heads-up display? What about its personality and how the voice will sound? What would it look like in the modern world, or even five to ten years from now?

Students should unleash their creativity to create the car of the future. We encourage the incorporation of new capabilities, like voice activation and big data connectivity, but all should be technically feasible for this decade (by 2030).

Judging will take place in two stages. First, the panel of judges will review and score the submissions. Three shortlisted teams per region (Asia Pacific and the Middle East, Americas, and Europe and Africa) will advance to stage two. These points from stage one will make up 50% of the final result.

In stage two, the nine shortlisted entries will be up for public vote. These points will make up the remaining 50% of the final result. Three regional winners with the highest points will be chosen as well as one global winning team with the highest overall points.

Only Shell Eco-marathon teams registered for the 2022 season can enter this competition. Entry is voluntary.

Shell’s Future Rider challenge is designed for Shell Eco-marathon teams to work together virtually. First you need to register for the 2022 season and then submit your Future Rider entry by October 28, 2021 at 23:59 (GMT).

Shell Eco-marathon 2022 Season Registration: September 1 – November 10, 2021 (required for participation, must be completed before the Future Rider submission period ends)
Future Rider submission: October 1 –October 28, 2021
Stage one judging: November 2 – November 9, 2021
Shortlisted teams announced: November 12, 2021
Stage two judging (public vote): November 19 – November 24, 2021
Winners announced: December 13, 2021

Please note that any of these dates may be subject to change according to the Organiser’s discretion. Changes will be communicated via this page and through the Shell Eco-marathon social channels.

The three regional winners and global winner will receive the following Virtual League prizes and points. As a grand prize, the global winner will get a money-can’t-buy motorsports experience.

Regional 1^st place: $1,000 and 100 Virtual League points

Regional 2^nd place: $750 and 85 Virtual League points

Regional 3^rd place: $500 and 70 Virtual League points

Global winner: Additional $500 and 50 Virtual League points

The rules can be found on this page.