The phrase “coming down to the wire” took on a whole new meaning for the Dartmouth students competing in the fifth annual Formula Hybrid Competition at New Hampshire Speedway in Loudon, N.H., this week. The Dartmouth Formula Racing Team, comprised of 35 students and led by four Thayer School of Engineering students, came in second in the car-building competition for design and fifth for endurance, according to Eric Mann Th’11.

Mann led the team with Francis Fortin-Houle Th’11, Adam Marano Th’11 and Philly Croteau Th’11 in the 15-week building period. The teams raced their finished products in a three-day competition that began Monday and finished Wednesday.

The cars underwent a series of tests for both speed and fuel efficiency, including an acceleration, endurance and autocross event, John Collier, a Thayer professor and faculty advisor for the team, said.