Cyclops:
Thanks for the adivce, it seems like you have experience with this kind of competition?

Engine is the most important factor because it has a high output compared to the resistances. For example, using a 1HP engine produces about 100N at the wheel. The sum of the total other forces, on a flat road, is about 10N. So a 10% increase in efficiency of the engine has 10x the effect as a 10% increase of the other factors. Plus, there is much more potential for efficiency gain in the engine. Weight is the second most important factor,but there's not a lot of room for improvement. Everybody has 3 wheels, an engine, and and a driver. If you spend a year developing the frame and use a super highly optimized composite sandwich monocoque design, you will save max 10% weight a well designed aluminum frame design, which is still nothing compared to the improvements you could've done on the engine.

A carburator works fine at WOT under steadystate under low compression ratios
Remember that in the competition the vehicle is started and stopped frequently, running for max 10 seconds at a time.
A carburator needs a much richer mixture than EFI when it is cold and starting, since the AF ratio outputted by the carb depends strongly on the RPMs.

There are EFI kits you can buy specifically for small displacement engines. Infact, since I'm running at WOT all the time, the fuel injection doesn't even need a metering device to change the amount of fuel when the engine is throttled. Only a temperature sensor is needed to compensate for the change in density of the fuel. This greatly simplifies things.

I agree with studying winners, but not blindly. I have done my independent research and design without looking at their designs, and have confirmed that it is similar to the winning teams. I also have read many reports by various teams who have competed at the competition to gain experience through what they've learned, since this is my first time at the competition. I think the teams at the European Shell Eco-marathons do a much better job. Their record is over 10,000MPG vs. the 3000MPG of the SAE competition in the US. Although a lot of their top teams is

I've also done other competitions (AUVSI AUV), and know the importance of reliability, time management, and setting realistic goals. I have also one of the highest averages in my program and have more than 3 years of machine shop experience.

Believe me, I've thought this all through.
I appreciate your help though.