UBRacing
UBRacing is the University of Birmingham's Formula Student team, founded in 1997, that designs and manufactures electric formula race cars for FSUK and international competitions, funded by corporate sponsors and developed by student engineers across five technical subsystems.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersBirmingham, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What UBRacing does
UBRacing is the University of Birmingham's Formula Student team, founded in 1997 by Blake Siegler. It is a university-affiliated student organization that designs and manufactures single-seat formula race cars to compete annually at Formula Student UK (FSUK) at Silverstone and at selected international events. As of 2026, the team has produced 28 cars (UBR01–UBR28); the current generation is fully electric with a carbon monocoque chassis, following a 2021 transition from combustion powertrains and steel space-frame construction.
The technical product is built across five subsystems: Chassis (carbon monocoque), Powertrain (electric, including battery design, manufacturing, and testing), Electronics and Control Systems (LV/HV electronics, embedded software, motor control, harness design, telemetry), Aerodynamics (front/rear wings, diffuser, CFD-optimized using ANSYS Fluent), and Vehicle Dynamics (suspension, uprights, steering). The team is supported by a core-tier industrial ecosystem of software and component sponsors, including Dassault Systèmes, ANSYS, Autodesk, Mazak, Airtech, SHD Composites, About:Energy, Ennoid, STMicroelectronics, Vicor Power, and RS Components. Competition results include 2nd overall at FSUK 2016/17 (UBR20) and 5th overall at FSUK 2025 (UBR28), with 1st place in Endurance and Cost events at the latter.
UBRacing is a non-commercial organization; it does not sell products or services and discloses no revenue. Its operating model is funded through corporate sponsorships (cash plus in-kind materials, software licenses, components, and services) in exchange for branding visibility, design-review access, and association with the Formula Student program. The team's primary stakeholders are University of Birmingham students seeking hands-on engineering experience, the university itself as host institution, and corporate sponsors seeking engineering talent pipeline visibility.
UBRacing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- UBRacing
- Legal name
- UBRacing
- Website
- https://ubracing.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- UBRacing is the University of Birmingham's Formula Student team, founded in 1997, that designs and manufactures electric formula race cars for FSUK and international competitions, funded by corporate sponsors and developed by student engineers across five technical subsystems.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
UBRacing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Formula Student Racing
- NAICS
- Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing (336320)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Motorsports Teams (F1, NASCAR, IndyCar, Rally, MotoGP, etc.) (MPAKABAB)
Keywords
Where UBRacing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Birmingham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
UBRacing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Sponsor Support: UBRacing operates as a university student team funded through corporate sponsorships. Sponsors provide financial support, materials, components, software, and services in exchange for branding visibility, team presentations, and association with a prestigious Formula Student program.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
UBRacing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
UBRacing is the University of Birmingham's Formula Student team that annually designs and manufactures an electric single-seater race car (most recently UBR28) for competition at Formula Student UK (FSUK) at Silverstone. The team also develops a Business Plan Presentation that accounts for 15% of competition scoring. Cars feature a carbon monocoque chassis, electric powertrain (since 2021 transition), CFD-optimized aerodynamics, integrated LV/HV electronics, motor control, telemetry, and full vehicle dynamics systems.
Product overview
UBRacing is the University of Birmingham's Formula Student team that designs and manufactures Formula Student race cars for competition. As of 2026, the team has produced 28 race cars (UBR01-UBR28). The product portfolio consists of electric race cars with carbon monocoque chassis, along with five technical subsystems (Chassis, Powertrain, Electronics and Control, Aerodynamics, Vehicle Dynamics) that work together as an integrated racing system. The team transitioned from combustion to electric powertrains in 2021. The product offering also includes a Business Plan Presentation component required for competition scoring.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- UBR28 (Electric Formula Student Race Car) The 28th Formula Student race car designed and manufactured by UBRacing for the 24/25 season; an electric single-seater with a carbon monocoque chassis. Built by University of Birmingham students and competed at FSUK 2025 at Silverstone, achieving 5th overall, 1st in Endurance, and 1st in Cost.
- UBR27 (Electric Formula Student Race Car) The 27th Formula Student race car from UBRacing's 23/24 season, an electric vehicle representing the second year of the team's electric powertrain development following the 2021 transition from combustion.
- UBR23 (Formula Student Race Car) The 23rd Formula Student race car from UBRacing, designed in the 2019/20 academic year and achieving a 15th place result.
Companies that use UBRacing
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
UBRacing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
UBRacing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- UKC (UK Composites)coreMaterials supplier providing composite materials for carbon fibre chassis and aerodynamic components manufacturing.
- Base MaterialscoreMaterials supplier for composite and engineering materials used in car construction.
- MazakcoreCNC machining partner providing precision manufacturing capabilities for machined components.
- Dassault Systèmes (3DS)coreProvides 3DExperience and simulation software for CAD design, finite element analysis, and system simulation.
- Frederick CooperminorMetal fabrication and precision engineering services.
- AirtechcoreAdvanced materials supplier for composite tooling and prepreg materials used in carbon fibre manufacturing.
- AutodeskcoreProvides Fusion 360 and other CAD/CAE software tools for design and engineering.
- SHD CompositescoreComposite materials supplier for structural and aesthetic components.
- RapidHarnesscoreWire harness design software and tools for electrical system design and documentation.
- PCM UKminorPrecision engineering and custom manufacturing services.
- Pro-SeatminorSeating systems and components for driver accommodation.
- ANSYScoreEngineering simulation software including Fluent CFD and structural analysis tools.
- AalbertsminorPrecision engineering and surface treatment services.
- RS ComponentscoreElectronic components, tools, and engineering supplies distributor.
- EnnoidcoreElectric motor controllers and power electronics for EV applications.
- Mission MotorsportminorArmed forces charity providing motorsport opportunities and career support.
- About:EnergycoreBattery technology partner providing expertise and components for EV accumulator design.
- Lions LogisticsminorLogistics services for transportation and event support.
- MultimaticcoreEngineering services and components for suspension and precision mechanical systems.
- STMicroelectronicscoreSemiconductor components and development tools for electronics and control systems.
- Vicor PowercorePower conversion and distribution solutions for EV electrical systems.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
UBRacing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ETH Zurich Academic Motor Sport (AMZ): ETH Zurich AMZ is one of the most successful Formula Student teams globally and a comparable peer operating a larger-scale EV program; useful international benchmark for UBRacing's engineering ambitions and alumni outcomes.
- Oxford Brookes Racing: Oxford Brookes University Formula Student team, a direct UK peer also competing in the FSUK combustion/EV class structure with similar team size, sponsor ecosystem, and alumni pipeline into F1 and automotive OEMs.
- Imperial College London Racing (ICR): Imperial College London Formula Student team, a peer UK university team with a similarly structured sponsorship-driven model, electric powertrain roadmap, and placement record into motorsport engineering roles.
- Manchester Formula Racing (University of Manchester): University of Manchester's Formula Student team, a direct UK peer with similar composition and FSUK competitive positioning; offers a useful talent-flow comparison point for UBRacing's sponsor economics.
- TU Delft Formula Student Team (DUT Racing): DUT Racing is the TU Delft Formula Student team and a comparable European EV-focused peer, regularly competing internationally and benchmarking the technical frontier for student EV powertrain development.
- University of Cambridge Formula Student Team (CUSF): Cambridge University Formula Student team competing in the same FSUK class, with comparable combustion-to-EV transition history, undergraduate volunteer engineering model, and university-located workshop facilities.
- University of Bath Racing Team: Bath Racing is the University of Bath Formula Student team and a direct UK competitor in the same FSUK class; shares the undergraduate volunteer model, EV powertrain transition, and F1 alumni placement pipeline.
Others
- Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) Formula Student: IMechE runs and accredits the Formula Student competition itself (including FSUK); UBRacing is a participating team and the relationship is ecosystem/competition-governance rather than commercial.
- Mission Motorsport: Mission Motorsport is a UK armed-forces motorsport charity and a listed UBRacing marketing/CSR partner; both organizations sit at the intersection of motorsport and talent-development for non-traditional engineering entrants.
Emerging players
- Ansible Motion (racing simulators): Ansible Motion supplies professional racing driver-in-the-loop simulators used by F1 teams and engineering universities; relevant adjacent peer in motorsport engineering tooling that competes for similar CAE/simulation budget lines.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
UBRacing social profiles
Digital presenceUBRacing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
UBRacing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
UBRacing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
UBRacing M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about UBRacing
What does UBRacing do?
UBRacing is the University of Birmingham's Formula Student team that annually designs and manufactures an electric single-seater race car (most recently UBR28) for competition at Formula Student UK (FSUK) at Silverstone. The team also develops a Business Plan Presentation that accounts for 15% of competition scoring. Cars feature a carbon monocoque chassis, electric powertrain (since 2021 transition), CFD-optimized aerodynamics, integrated LV/HV electronics, motor control, telemetry, and full vehicle dynamics systems.
Is UBRacing a public or private company?
UBRacing is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was UBRacing founded?
UBRacing was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is UBRacing based?
UBRacing is headquartered in Birmingham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does UBRacing make money?
One revenue line is on record: sponsor Support.
Who are UBRacing's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ETH Zurich Academic Motor Sport (AMZ), Oxford Brookes Racing, Imperial College London Racing (ICR), Manchester Formula Racing (University of Manchester), TU Delft Formula Student Team (DUT Racing), University of Cambridge Formula Student Team (CUSF) and University of Bath Racing Team. Others are Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) Formula Student and Mission Motorsport. Ansible Motion (racing simulators) is listed as an emerging player.
Does UBRacing have an API?
No public API is recorded for UBRacing.
What industry is UBRacing in?
UBRacing's product category is Formula Student Racing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKABAB, Motorsports Teams (F1, NASCAR, IndyCar, Rally, MotoGP, etc.). Its NAICS code is 336320.