RUB Motorsport

What RUB Motorsport does

RUB Motorsport e.V. is a registered student association (eingetragener Verein) affiliated with Ruhr-Universität Bochum in Bochum, Germany, that designs, develops, constructs, and races single-seat Formula Student vehicles for international collegiate motorsport competitions. Founded circa 2007/2013 (first documented vehicle RUB13), the club transitions from combustion to electric powertrains — RUB20 (2019–21) was the last combustion car, with RUB22e, RUB23e, RUB24, and RUB25 forming the all-electric lineage. Vehicles are built in-house at the university's IBN building workshop (Universitätsstraße 150, Bochum) using SolidWorks CAD, Selective Laser Melting (SLM) additive manufacturing via Prototec, hand-laminated Saugvlies vacuum-prepreg carbon-fibre monocoque construction, six-hour heat-treated front hoops, and electronic systems integration. Notable engineering features include an aramid-fibre battery container, BILSTEIN damper integration validated on a 7-post test rig, and SLM-manufactured weight-optimised lattice components.

The club does not sell products or services commercially. Its 'revenue' consists entirely of sponsorship and partner contributions (monetary plus in-kind components and services) from roughly 20 industrial and institutional partners including BILSTEIN (official works partner), Gene Haas Foundation, REICH (10-year manufacturing partner), Siemens, 3M, Loctite, Altair, Dassault Systèmes, VDI, Prototec, STROMBOLI, Würth Elektronik, Austrotherm, Sumitomo Electric, and Trelleborg. The team competes internationally in Formula Student Germany (Hockenheimring), Formula Student Netherlands (TT Circuit Assen), Formula Student Austria (Red Bull Ring Spielberg), and Formula Student East (Hungaroring Budapest). In the 2024 season the RUB24 completed all 16 dynamic disciplines across three events, recorded the fastest acceleration time in club history, and achieved the highest mileage of any RUB Motorsport car in six years. It is led by 1st Chairman Julian Zumbusch and 2nd Chairman Niklas Würtz and is governed entirely by its student membership.

Name

RUB Motorsport

Legal name

RUB Motorsport e.V.

Website

https://rubmotorsport.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RUB Motorsport e.V. is a student motorsport association at Ruhr-Universität Bochum that designs, builds, and races single-seat electric Formula Student cars in international competitions, funded by roughly 20 industrial and institutional sponsors including BILSTEIN and the Gene Haas Foundation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Motorsport Engineering

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948)

akta.pro primary industry

Motorsports Teams & Entrants (Factory & Independent) (MPAKAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Motorsports Teams (F1, NASCAR, IndyCar, Rally, MotoGP, etc.) (MPAKABAB), Motorsport Driver Training Schools & Racing Academies (MPAKAJAJ)

Keywords

• Formula Student racing
• Student motorsport team
• Electric racing car
• Composite chassis manufacturing
• Motorsport engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Bochum

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Sponsorship and partner contributions: RUB Motorsport is funded through sponsorships, partner contributions, and institutional support from Ruhr-Universität Bochum. The team has a growing network of industrial partners (manufacturers, technology suppliers, and financial sponsors) who provide components, services, and monetary support. Revenue is non-commercial and purpose-driven, supporting the club's annual racing car development cycle.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

RUB Motorsport is a student association at Ruhr-Universität Bochum that designs, manufactures and races single-seat Formula Student racing cars for international collegiate motorsport competitions. The team produces a new vehicle each season — its 2025 iteration is the RUB25, an electric race car — and competes in Formula Student events in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Eastern Europe. Operations are delivered by student volunteers and funded through industrial sponsorships rather than commercial sales.

Product overview

RUB Motorsport is a Formula Student racing team at Ruhr-Universität Bochum that designs and builds racing cars for international Formula Student competitions. The team develops a new racing vehicle annually, transitioning from combustion engines (RUB20) to electric powertrains starting with RUB22e and RUB23e. Their product portfolio consists of Formula Student racing cars (RUB25, RUB24, RUB23e, RUB22e, RUB20) built entirely in-house by student members, featuring advanced chassis construction, suspension systems, and electronic systems. The team also offers an annual CAD workshop using SolidWorks and developmental project opportunities for students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RUB25 Latest single-seat Formula Student electric racing car produced by RUB Motorsport for the 2025 competition season.
• RUB24 2024-season Formula Student electric racing car featuring an aramid-fibre reinforced battery container.
• RUB23e 2023-season Formula Student electric racing car, the first RUB Motorsport vehicle to complete dynamic disciplines with its own in-house electric powertrain.
• RUB22e 2022-season Formula Student racing car; the debut electric vehicle in the team's powertrain transition from combustion to electric.
• RUB20 2019-season Formula Student racing car, the final combustion-engined vehicle in the team's history before the switch to fully electric powertrains.

Quantifiable outcome

• 16 out of 16 dynamic disciplines completed across three Formula Student events in 2024 season
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• REICH (Dipl.-Ing. Herwarth Reich GmbH)coreTechnology or Integration · 27 May 2024REICH is a Bochum-based traditional company and main manufacturer for RUB Motorsport for the past decade. The company specializes in drive technology and precision manufacturing. For the RUB24, REICH manufactured wheel hubs using a modern turning centre capable of complex geometries. An evolutionary optimization saved approximately 0.5 kg across all four hubs compared to the previous year.
• BILSTEIN (thyssenkrupp AG)coreTechnology or Integration · 9 April 2024BILSTEIN became the official works partner and damper supplier of RUB Motorsport in April 2024. The collaboration includes extensive research and testing, damper optimization for car set-up, and access to BILSTEIN's class-leading 7-Post Test Rig. The partnership aims to provide parts and engage in joint research to enhance vehicle performance. BILSTEIN is part of thyssenkrupp AG.
• S.I.H.A. Ausstellungen Promotion GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerS.I.H.A. collaborated with RUB Motorsport for exhibitions at the Essen Motor Show 2023 and Techno-Classica 2024, enabling the team to reach a broad automotive enthusiast audience beyond Formula Student.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• KA-RaceIng (KIT Karlsruhe): Formula Student team at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, one of the most decorated German student motorsport teams with multiple competition wins. Comparable to RUB Motorsport in scope (EV + combustion builds, SLM additive manufacturing, premium industry partners) and competition footprint across Formula Student Germany and neighbouring events.
• AMZ (ETH Zürich): Formula Student team at ETH Zürich, one of the most successful European student motorsport programmes with multiple world-level titles. Comparable to RUB Motorsport as a Swiss/German-speaking academic team competing in the same Formula Student Europe events with similar EV and autonomous vehicle development.
• Lions Racing Team (TU Braunschweig): Formula Student team at TU Braunschweig, a German academic motorsport team competing in the same Formula Student circuit. Comparable to RUB Motorsport in structure, competition footprint and reliance on German industrial partners.
• DUT Racing (Delft University of Technology): Formula Student team at TU Delft (Netherlands), one of the strongest European entries in Formula Student competitions. Directly comparable to RUB Motorsport as a student-run team designing and racing single-seat electric and combustion vehicles across the same Formula Student Europe circuit.
• TUfast (TU München): Formula Student team at Technical University of Munich, regularly a top finisher in Formula Student Germany and international events. Comparable to RUB Motorsport as a Bavarian/German student EV racing programme with premium industry sponsorship (BMW, Audi, etc.) and similar SLM/composite chassis techniques.
• Ecurie Aix (RWTH Aachen): Formula Student team at RWTH Aachen University, a direct German university peer competing in the same Formula Student Germany and adjacent European events. Comparable to RUB Motorsport in scope, technical approach (composite monocoque, EV drivetrain) and partnership-driven funding model.
• Stuttgarter Rennteam (University of Stuttgart): Formula Student team at the University of Stuttgart, long-running German student motorsport entrant. Directly comparable to RUB Motorsport as a German university team competing in the same Formula Student events with similar annual vehicle development cycles and industrial partner structures.

Others

• Gene Haas Foundation: Financial sponsor of RUB Motorsport and a broader funder of manufacturing education worldwide. Relevant as both a partnership counterparty and as an ecosystem-level peer funder supporting other student motorsport and engineering programmes.
• Hockenheimring (event venue): The motorsport venue hosting Formula Student Germany. Indirectly comparable as the site where RUB Motorsport has competed and where Formula Student teams gather annually; relevant as ecosystem infrastructure rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Formula Student Germany (organising body / event): The organising body of Formula Student Germany at Hockenheimring, one of the largest Formula Student competitions globally. Relevant as the broader ecosystem/context in which RUB Motorsport operates and benchmarks itself against hundreds of teams worldwide.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rubmotorsport
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/RUBMotorsport
• Facebookfacebook.com/rub.motorsport
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/rub-motorsport
• Instagraminstagram.com/rubmotorsport

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RUB Motorsport