Garuda UNY Eco Team once again delivered an outstanding achievement by securing first place in the Urban Concept – Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) category at the Shell Eco-Marathon Asia-Pacific and Middle East 2026, held on 21–25 January 2026 at the Lusail International Circuit, Qatar.
The Shell Eco-Marathon (SEM) is a prestigious international competition organized by Shell, bringing together students from Asia-Pacific and Middle Eastern countries, including Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, China, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Oman, India, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. The 2026 edition was attended by 96 teams from universities and higher education institutions across the two regions, with Indonesia represented by 28 teams from both public and private universities.
In the competition, teams were challenged to design and operate vehicles with the highest possible energy efficiency through technological innovation and optimal energy management strategies. At SEM 2026, UNY sent seven students as members of the Garuda UNY Team, accompanied by two advisors from the Faculty of Engineering, Dr. Ir. Zainal Arifin, M.T. and Dr. Sutiman, S.Pd., M.T.
The competition stages included technical inspection, practice races, and the final race. With thorough preparation, strong teamwork, and support from various stakeholders, the Garuda UNY Team—led by Fadhil Akmal—delivered an impressive performance, winning first place in the Urban Concept ICE category and recording an energy efficiency of 535 km/l. This achievement highlights the team’s consistency in sustainable energy innovation and brings pride to Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta and Indonesia on the international stage.
During their time in Qatar, the Garuda UNY Team also received support from the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI). Embassy representatives visited the paddocks of Indonesian teams, including Garuda UNY, as a show of encouragement for Indonesian students competing in the global Shell Eco-Marathon event.
Fadhil Akmal, Team Leader of Garuda UNY Eco Team, stated that the achievement was the result of hard work, strong cohesion, and the commitment of all team members, supported by continuous guidance from their advisors. “We are proud to represent Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta and Indonesia at an international competition,” said the Manufacturing Engineering student.
The success of Garuda UNY at Shell Eco-Marathon 2026 was also strongly supported by Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, the Faculty of Engineering, and UNY alumni. Alumni contributions, particularly from those based in Qatar, played a significant role in assisting the team during the competition. Additional support came from main sponsors Prestone and Master, as well as Donta, Ikato, Lamban, SolidWorks, Triofa, Maguwoharjo, and media partner MileniaNews.
Beyond the competition result, this achievement serves as a powerful motivation for students to continue innovating in the development of environmentally friendly and sustainable vehicle technologies. Garuda UNY Team remains committed to advancing such technologies while continuing to elevate the reputation of Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta on the global stage.
