Duke University Motorsports

What Duke University Motorsports does

Duke University Motorsports is a student-led engineering project team based at Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering in Durham, North Carolina. The organization is composed of approximately 37 student members who work year-round to design, build, and test an open-wheel formula-style race car for the annual Formula SAE (FSAE) Michigan competition. The team's core product is a single formula-style race car produced on an annual cycle, with the majority of components manufactured in-house and select parts (engine, shocks, tires) sourced externally. The engineering workflow is anchored in CAD-based design using SolidWorks, enabling component integration and problem resolution prior to physical manufacturing. The team develops custom intake, exhaust, fuel, and control systems built around a Honda motorcycle-sourced engine.

The organization is not a commercial enterprise. It has no product revenue, no pricing model, and no paying customers. Funding is provided entirely through corporate sponsorships. Documented sponsors include SolidWorks (CAD software provider), Michelin (tire manufacturer), General Motors (automotive OEM), and the Duke Engineering Alumni association. The team markets itself through a Wix-hosted website (dukefsae.com) and a broad social media footprint spanning Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube, primarily to attract sponsors and document competition activity. Operational ownership rests with student leadership and university faculty advisors in line with typical extracurricular university organizations.

The team's customer is fundamentally Duke's undergraduate engineering student body, with the value proposition centered on delivering hands-on, iterative design experience that complements the formal engineering curriculum and develops technical and leadership skills. Beyond students, the organization's stakeholders are its corporate sponsors, for whom the team provides brand ambassadorship and a talent pipeline. The team has documented active competition participation dating back to at least 2013 and released highlights from the 2025 FSAE competition.

Name

Duke University Motorsports

Legal name

Duke Motorsports

Website

https://dukefsae.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Duke University Motorsports is a student-run engineering team at Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering that designs, builds, and tests an open-wheel formula-style race car annually for the FSAE Michigan competition, funded through corporate sponsorships rather than commercial revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Engineering Racing

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Manufacturing (3361), Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing (3363)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAKAGAB

Motorsports Teams & Entrants (Factory & Independent)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Motorsports Series, Teams & Promoters

SECONDARYEDABALAB

Automotive

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/Industry-Specific Professional Training (e.g., Healthcare, Manufacturing, Construction)

Keywords

• Student racing team
• Formula sae vehicle
• Engineering design project
• Motorsports education
• Vehicle manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Durham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Duke University Motorsports is a student engineering project team at Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering that designs, builds, and tests an open-wheel formula-style race car annually for the FSAE Michigan competition. The team uses CAD software to design and integrate all vehicle components before fabrication, manufactures the majority of parts in-house, and customizes purchased components such as the Honda motorcycle engine with bespoke intake, exhaust, fuel, and control systems.

Product overview

Duke University Motorsports is a student engineering project team at Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering that operates as a single-product offering. The team designs, builds, and tests one open wheel formula style race car per year for competition at FSAE Michigan. The team uses CAD (Computer Aided Design) software for vehicle design and manufactures most components in-house, with purchased parts including the Honda motorcycle engine, shocks, and tires customized with custom intake, exhaust, fuel, and control systems. The core product is the annual Formula SAE competition vehicle.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Duke FSAE Formula Style Race Car An open-wheel formula-style race car designed, built, and tested annually by Duke University engineering students for competition at FSAE Michigan. The team manufactures the majority of parts in-house, purchases components such as the engine, shocks, and tires, and customizes the Honda motorcycle engine with custom intake, exhaust, fuel, and control systems.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• SolidWorkscoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides CAD (Computer Aided Design) software used by the team for vehicle design. SolidWorks enables the team to integrate all components together and resolve potential problems before manufacturing begins.
• MichelincoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTire manufacturer providing sponsorship to the team. Michelin supplies tires for the formula race car, enabling the team to compete at FSAE Michigan.
• General Motors (GM)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerAutomotive manufacturer providing sponsorship support to Duke Motorsports. GM's involvement provides brand ambassadorship and technical/supply chain support opportunities.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights1 record

Direct peers

• MIT Motorsports: MIT's Formula SAE team, one of the most established and well-funded university motorsports programs in the U.S. Directly comparable to Duke University Motorsports as a student-led FSAE team designing, building, and competing with a formula-style race car.
• Georgia Tech Motorsports: One of the largest and most decorated FSAE programs in the U.S., based at a peer top-tier engineering school. Comparable to Duke's program in mission, structure, and competition circuit.
• Stanford Motorsports: Stanford's Formula SAE team, operating with similar sponsorship and engineering-talent dynamics as Duke's program. Competes in the same FSAE series with a comparable student-led, single-car-per-year model.
• Carnegie Mellon Racing: Carnegie Mellon's Formula SAE team, drawing on a strong engineering talent base. Comparable to Duke University Motorsports in structure, mission, and competition footprint.
• Texas A&M SAE: Texas A&M's Formula SAE program, a large and well-funded team from another top engineering school. Comparable to Duke in operating model and competition circuit.
• Purdue Motorsports: Purdue's Formula SAE team, one of the older and more established programs in the U.S. Directly comparable in structure and competition circuit to Duke's motorsports program.
• Virginia Tech Motorsports: Virginia Tech's Formula SAE team, a strong engineering school motorsports program. Comparable to Duke in operating model, talent pipeline, and competition circuit.
• University of Michigan FSAE: University of Michigan's Formula SAE team, with deep industry sponsorship and a long history. Comparable to Duke University Motorsports as a top-tier engineering school motorsports program.

Others

• Honda Racing (motorsports division): Honda's motorsports division, which produces the motorcycle engine that Duke's team customizes. Relevant as a peer in the motorsports ecosystem and as the supplier of the team's base powertrain.

Broad incumbents

• SAE International (FSAE competition organizer): The parent organization that runs the Formula SAE competition in which Duke University Motorsports competes. Relevant as the governing body that defines the technical and competition rules the team operates under.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DukeFSAE
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@DukeMotorsports?si=nRce5WGsx8TPrZuu
• Facebookfacebook.com/DukeUniversityMotorsports
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/duke-fsae
• Instagraminstagram.com/dukefsae

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Duke University Motorsports