Joanneum Racing Graz

What Joanneum Racing Graz does

Joanneum Racing Graz is a student-led Formula Student racing team founded in 2003 at FH JOANNEUM in Graz, Austria, organized as a registered Austrian association (Verein Joanneum Racing Graz, ZVR 123152528). The team designs, develops, and builds electric race cars for international Formula Student competitions and has produced 23 consecutive vehicle generations (JR04-JR26) since inception. In the 2023 season the team consisted of approximately 85 members drawn from various degree programs at FH JOANNEUM, structured into 19 specialist departments including aerodynamics, battery, e-powertrain, driverless, manufacturing, and vehicle dynamics.

The team's technical core is a self-developed electric powertrain anchored by a proprietary 6th-generation silicon carbide (SiC) inverter, a self-developed Power Control Unit (PCU) integrated with Speedgoat as the Vehicle Control Unit, and dual Fischer PMSM motors (35 kW each) configured for all-wheel drive with a 600V battery system. The chassis is a hand-laminated carbon fiber monocoque weighing under 24 kg, contributing to a total vehicle weight under 160 kg, with CFD-optimized aerodynamic surfaces including a Drag Reduction System (DRS). The JR26, rolled out on 2026-05-08, is the team's fifth fully self-developed electric race car.

Joanneum Racing Graz does not sell commercial products or services. The organization is funded entirely through corporate sponsorships, in-kind material contributions, and institutional support from FH JOANNEUM. The sponsor ecosystem includes Platinum-tier partners (AVL RaceTech, Magna, Pankl Racing Systems, Red Bull, Joanneum Research, Biesterfeld, Resch GmbH, HILITECH, Evileye), Gold-tier partners (Speedgoat, ZÖRKLER, Fischer Elektromotoren), and Silver-tier partners (KW Suspensions). The team competes in the EV class at international Formula Student events (FS Easter, FS Netherlands, FS Austria, FS Czech, FS Alpe Adria) and achieved the #2 world ranking in the Formula Student Electric class in 2025, with 13 podium finishes and overall wins at FS Austria and FS Czech.

Name

Joanneum Racing Graz

Legal name

Verein Joanneum Racing Graz

Website

https://joanneum-racing.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Joanneum Racing Graz is a student-led Formula Student racing team at FH JOANNEUM in Graz, Austria, founded in 2003, that designs and builds electric race cars for international competitions and is funded by industrial sponsors including AVL, Magna, Pankl, and Red Bull.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Motorsport Engineering / Formula Student Electric Race Cars

NAICS

Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (339920)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

EV Platform/Skateboard & Chassis Integration Manufacturing (IMACACAI)

Keywords

• Formula Student racing
• Electric race car development
• Student engineering team
• Motorsport engineering
• Carbon fiber monocoque

Headquarters

HQ city

Graz

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Sponsor Funding: The team is funded entirely through sponsorships from companies in the automotive, technology, and manufacturing sectors. Sponsors provide financial support, materials, components, and services in exchange for branding visibility at competitions and on the vehicle.
2. University Support: The team receives institutional support from FH JOANNEUM, including facilities, equipment, and administrative resources as part of the university's educational programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Joanneum Racing Graz designs, develops, and builds electric Formula Student race cars that compete in international Formula Student competitions. Each year the team produces a new generation vehicle, with the JR26 (rollout May 8, 2026) being the current flagship. The team operates as an extracurricular student organization at FH JOANNEUM University, providing hands-on interdisciplinary engineering experience to approximately 85 student members across vehicle development, manufacturing, and competition.

Product overview

Joanneum Racing Graz is a Formula Student team that designs, develops, and builds electric race cars for international Formula Student competitions. The company produces a series of named electric race cars (JR26, JR25, JR24, JR23, JR22, and earlier models). The JR26 is the current flagship vehicle - the fifth fully self-developed electric race car featuring an aerodynamically optimized monocoque, advanced suspension, and competition-optimized battery system. Prior to 2022, the team built combustion vehicles. The JR22 marked the transition to electric vehicles, and the team achieved the first Austrian overall win in the electric class. The team competes in Electric Vehicle (EV) class at Formula Student events including FS Easter, FS Netherlands, FS Austria, and FS Czech.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• JR26 The fifth fully self-developed electric Formula Student race car built by Joanneum Racing Graz, featuring a new aerodynamically optimized monocoque geometry, advanced suspension concept, weight-optimized packaging of high- and low-voltage components, and a competition-performance battery system with all-wheel-drive electric drivetrain.
• JR25

Quantifiable outcome

• World #2 ranking in Formula Student Electric (2025) among 400+ teams
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• FH JOANNEUMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary institutional partner and parent organization. Provides facilities, equipment, administrative support, and student recruitment. The team is comprised entirely of students from FH JOANNEUM's various degree programs.
• AVL RaceTechflagshipTechnology or IntegrationPlatinum sponsor providing technology and expertise in racing technology. AVL is a leading company in vehicle propulsion systems and testing solutions.
• MagnaflagshipTechnology or IntegrationPlatinum sponsor and one of the world's largest automotive technology companies. Provides expertise and components for vehicle systems.
• Pankl Racing SystemsflagshipTechnology or IntegrationPlatinum sponsor specializing in high-performance engine and transmission systems for motorsports. Long-standing supporter of the team.
• Resch GmbH Fertigungstechnik & PrototypenbauflagshipTechnology or IntegrationPlatinum sponsor providing manufacturing expertise and prototype construction services for precision components.
• SpeedgoatcoreTechnology or IntegrationGold sponsor providing Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) technology used in conjunction with the team's self-developed PCU.
• ZOERKLERflagshipTechnology or IntegrationGold sponsor specializing in transmission systems and precision mechanical components. Their gearbox expertise supports the drivetrain development.
• BiesterfeldflagshipTechnology or IntegrationPlatinum sponsor providing high-quality composite materials for the team's carbon fiber manufacturing processes.
• Fischer ElektromotorencoreTechnology or IntegrationGold sponsor providing PMSM motors (35 kW each) used in the electric race car's all-wheel drive system.
• KW SuspensionscoreTechnology or IntegrationSilver sponsor providing adjustable coilover suspension systems (KW.Gewindefahrwerk) for the race car's suspension system.
• Joanneum ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum sponsor representing the research arm of FH JOANNEUM, providing R&D support and technical expertise.
• HILITECHflagshipTechnology or IntegrationPlatinum sponsor providing manufacturing and technology solutions for component production.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Team Bath Racing (University of Bath): UK Formula Student team competing in the electric class. Comparable in scope and competition participation but typically smaller scale and lower ranking than Joanneum Racing Graz.
• Cambridge University Racing (CUR): UK-based Formula Student team from Cambridge University building electric and autonomous cars. Comparable in student-led EV race car development and Formula Student competition participation, though operating in a different regional sponsor market.
• Formula Student Team Delft (DUT Racing): Delft University of Technology's Formula Student team, regularly placing in top decile worldwide. Comparable in student engineering scope and competition circuit, but operating in the Dutch/Benelux market.

Direct peers

• TUfast Racing Team (TU Munich): Long-standing and highly decorated Formula Student team from TU Munich, also in the DACH region and competing in the Electric class. Directly comparable in scope, sponsor portfolio (BMW, Audi, etc.), and ambition to Joanneum Racing Graz.
• GreenTeam Formula Student (FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg / Friedrich-Alexander-Universität): German Formula Student Electric team with multiple overall wins and a strong proprietary EV powertrain focus. Comparable in build philosophy, competition results, and DACH-region sponsor base to Joanneum Racing Graz.
• AMZ Racing Team (ETH Zurich): Top-ranked Swiss Formula Student team at ETH Zurich, competing in both Electric and Driverless classes. Comparable in technical depth, sponsor ecosystem, and target competition circuit to Joanneum Racing Graz.
• Forza-H (TU Darmstadt): Formula Student Electric and Driverless team from TU Darmstadt, typically ranked among the top German teams. Directly comparable in electric-class competition results and DACH sponsor profile to Joanneum Racing Graz.
• Stuttgart Racing - Team SRe11 (University of Stuttgart): University of Stuttgart's Formula Student team with strong EV focus and Daimler/Porsche ties. Comparable in competition participation, EV engineering depth, and automotive sponsor network to Joanneum Racing Graz.
• KA-RaceIng (KIT Karlsruhe): Karlsruhe Institute of Technology's Formula Student team, long-running and successful in both combustion and electric classes. Comparable scale, German-speaking university affiliation, and competition track record.
• UPBracing (University of Paderborn): German Formula Student team with a long track record of overall competition wins, including multiple Driverless titles. Comparable in competition ambition and German sponsor ecosystem to Joanneum Racing Graz.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/joanneumracing
• Facebookfacebook.com/joanneumracing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/joanneum-racing-graz
• Instagraminstagram.com/joanneumracinggraz
• TikToktiktok.com/@joanneumracinggraz
• Xx.com/joanneumracing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 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 Joanneum Racing Graz