Oxford Brookes Racing
Oxford Brookes Racing is a non-profit Formula Student racing team at Oxford Brookes University, where over 300 students from 28 nationalities design and build electric and autonomous single-seat racing cars for international Formula Student competitions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersHeadington, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Oxford Brookes Racing does
Oxford Brookes Racing (OBR) is a non-profit university Formula Student racing team founded in 1999 at Oxford Brookes University's Wheatley Campus in Headington, Oxford, UK. The team, comprising over 300 student members from 28 nationalities, builds electric single-seat racing cars featuring a 4WD in-hub motor architecture with AMK AC servo motors producing over 300 N-m of torque per wheel, a 600V 6.6 kWh LCO pouch-cell battery pack with 130+ kW peak output, and a carbon-fibre monocoque chassis produced with Silverstone Composites. OBR operates two divisions: the main racing team (competing in electric vehicle categories since the 2020 season) and OBR Autonomous (founded 2019), which develops self-driving systems and has maintained top-3 rankings in FSUK-AI competitions since its first entry.
The team is funded exclusively through tiered sponsorship (platinum/gold/silver/bronze) and in-kind support from Oxford Brookes University, which provides facilities, faculty consultancy, and workspace. Platinum sponsor Silverstone Composites supplies carbon-fibre materials and curing capability; gold sponsor Vigour Machining provides machining services; and more than 20 additional partners—NVIDIA, Continental, 3Dconnexion, Accu, Nikon SLM, OXTS, ETAS, Bicester Motion, Corex Honeycomb, Labcenter Electronics, Marbocote, Shape Group, Spal Automotive, Tru-Tension, About Energy, BOTT, ClickBond, Metamark, Nano Electronic Services, Powdertech, EMKAY, and Trimech—contribute components, software, manufacturing services, and financial support. OBR has no commercial products, no pricing model, and no disclosed revenue; sponsors gain brand association and recruitment pipeline access to engineering talent.
With seven UK Top Team awards—more than any other university—and 11 total competition wins across UK, Czech, German, Austrian, and US Formula Student events from 2003 to 2023, OBR operates as the UK's most decorated Formula Student program. The team's stated mission is to develop versatile graduates able to excel in high-performance teams and to build a multi-year legacy as a competitive, high-quality engineering outfit, with secondary value creation for sponsors through talent recruitment and motorsport engineering brand association.
Oxford Brookes Racing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Oxford Brookes Racing
- Legal name
- Oxford Brookes Racing
- Website
- https://obr.brookes.ac.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Oxford Brookes Racing is a non-profit Formula Student racing team at Oxford Brookes University, where over 300 students from 28 nationalities design and build electric and autonomous single-seat racing cars for international Formula Student competitions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Oxford Brookes Racing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Motorsport Competition / Engineering Education
- NAICS
- Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)
- SIC
- Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Motorsport Driver Training Schools & Racing Academies (MPAKAJAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Electric Drive Unit / E-Axle Manufacturing (Motors/Inverters/Gearboxes) (IMACACAC), Racing Technology & Timing/Tracking Infrastructure (MPAEADAN)
Keywords
Where Oxford Brookes Racing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Headington, Oxfordshire
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Oxford Brookes Racing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Sponsorship: Oxford Brookes Racing operates as a sponsored university racing team. The team receives support from platinum sponsors (Silverstone Composites), gold sponsors (Oxford Brookes University, Vigour Machining), silver sponsors, and bronze sponsors who provide financial support, materials, machining capabilities, and expertise.
- University Funding: Oxford Brookes University provides facilities, faculty consultancy, expertise on technical decisions, and workspace at Wheatley Campus.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
Oxford Brookes Racing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Oxford Brookes Racing is a university Formula Student team that builds single-seat electric racing cars and develops autonomous driving systems for engineering competition. The team designs and manufactures carbon-fibre-chassised cars with 4WD in-hub motors and competes at FSUK, FSCzech, FSG, and FSA events. The associated OBR Autonomous division (founded 2019) focuses on self-driving systems for Formula Student race cars, achieving consistent top-3 finishes at FSUK-AI competitions.
Product overview
Oxford Brookes Racing operates as a Formula Student educational racing team consisting of two divisions: the main OBR Formula Student Racing team (founded 1999, competing in electric vehicle categories since 2020) and OBR Autonomous (founded 2019). The team designs and builds complete single-seat racing cars featuring carbon fibre monocoque chassis, electric powertrains with 4WD in-hub motors producing over 300 N-m torque per wheel, and autonomous driving capabilities. The team competes at Formula Student UK, FSCzech, FSG Germany, FSA Michigan, and FSA Austria events.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- OBR Formula Student Racing The main Oxford Brookes Racing team that designs and builds single-seat electric Formula Student racing cars for competition. Features include a carbon fibre monocoque chassis, 4WD in-hub motor configuration with AMK AC servo motors, a 600V 6.6 kWh battery pack, and advanced aerodynamics. Cars compete in Formula Student UK (Silverstone), FSCzech, FSG (Hockenheimring), and FSA events.
- OBR Autonomous The autonomous racing division of Oxford Brookes Racing, founded in 2019, focused on developing self-driving systems for Formula Student race cars. The team consists of 21+ students from computing and engineering backgrounds and has maintained top-3 rankings in every FSUK-AI competition since first entry in 2019, across 6 FSUK-AI competitions.
Quantifiable outcome
- 7 UK Top Team Awards - more than any other university
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Oxford Brookes Racing
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Oxford Brookes Racing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Oxford Brookes Racing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.
- Silverstone CompositesflagshipPlatinum sponsor and key partner providing material and curing needs including high-quality carbon fibre supply and curing capabilities. Their expertise and consultancy on carbon fibre layups is invaluable for producing the carbon fibre monocoque chassis.
- Oxford Brookes UniversityflagshipGold sponsor providing state-of-the-art facilities, faculty staff consultancy, expertise on key technical decisions, and workspace at Wheatley Campus. Essential partner in operating the UK's most successful Formula Student outfit.
- Vigour MachiningflagshipGold sponsor providing machining capabilities and expertise to fulfil all machining and finishing needs, enabling production of cutting-edge parts and pushing boundaries of Formula Student car capabilities.
- South Oxfordshire District CouncilminorPartner supporting OBR Autonomous team operations and autonomous racing development.
- IMechEcoreInstitution of Mechanical Engineers runs the Formula Student competition and backs the competition with high-profile engineers such as Ross Brawn OBE. OBR is affiliated with this organization through competition participation.
- Driver61minorScott Mansell from Driver61 and Fluid Jobs visited Oxford Brookes University to create in-depth video coverage exploring the cutting-edge technology and engineering behind OBR's Formula Student car, providing media exposure.
- 3DconnexionminorBronze sponsor providing precision engineering tools and hardware for CAD/design work.
- AccucorePrecision components and fasteners provider. Accu was essential in assembling electrical systems, providing exact fasteners needed to securely and efficiently bring everything together. Partnership includes training future engineers and the Accu Dream Job initiative offering hands-on experience.
- Nikon SLMminorProvides additive manufacturing capabilities through selective laser melting technology for prototyping and custom parts production.
- Bicester MotionminorBronze sponsor supporting OBR operations, associated with motorsport and automotive testing facilities.
- Corex HoneycombminorProvides honeycomb core materials used in composite structures for racing car components.
- MarbocoteminorProvides surface coating and lubrication solutions for machined parts and components.
- Shape GroupminorProvides engineering and manufacturing services for custom parts and components.
- Spal AutomotiveminorProvides cooling and ventilation solutions for electric powertrain components.
- Tru-TensionminorProvides tensioning and clamping solutions for racing applications.
- About EnergyminorProvides battery and energy storage solutions expertise for electric powertrain development.
- BOTTminorProvides storage and workshop equipment solutions for team operations.
- ClickBondminorProvides specialty fasteners and adhesives for racing applications.
- MetamarkminorProvides labelling and branding solutions for team materials and car components.
- PowdertechminorProvides powder coating and surface finishing services for metal components.
- EMKAYminorProvides precision machined components and engineering solutions.
- TrimechminorProvides precision engineering and manufacturing services for custom components.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Oxford Brookes Racing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AMZ Racing (ETH Zurich): Swiss ETH Zurich's Formula Student team and a perennial FSG and FSUK podium finisher with electric and autonomous programmes. Closely comparable to OBR on technical ambition, autonomous and EV powertrain development, and global competition schedule.
- University of Warwick Racing: Warwick Racing is a leading UK Formula Student team with strong FSUK results. Directly comparable to OBR as a UK university team operating in the same competition categories and developing similar EV and autonomous technologies.
- TUfast Racing (TU Munich): Technical University of Munich's Formula Student team competing in FSG and other events with both combustion and electric categories. Directly comparable to OBR as a top European technical university racing team with deep industry sponsorship.
- Delft University of Technology — DUT Racing: TU Delft's Formula Student team, regularly competitive across FS events including electric and driverless categories. Comparable to OBR on technical sophistication, university-backed structure, and multi-event competition presence.
- Cambridge University Racing (CUSF): Cambridge University Students' Union Formula racing team, a regular FSUK and FSG competitor in electric and driverless categories. Comparable to OBR as a top UK academic racing team with similar talent pipeline and competition scope.
- Imperial College Racing: Imperial College London's Formula Student team, regularly a top UK and European FS competitor with EV and autonomous divisions. Closely comparable to OBR as a UK elite university team with similar engineering depth and competition footprint.
- University of Bath Racing (UBR): A leading UK Formula Student team based at the University of Bath that competes in FSUK and international Formula Student events. Directly comparable to OBR in structure (university-run student team), category (electric and driverless), and competition calendar.
- Stuttgart Rennteam (University of Stuttgart): University of Stuttgart's Formula Student team competing at FSG and other events. Comparable to OBR on European competition presence, electric powertrain development, and university-based sponsorship model.
Emerging players
- Monash Motorsport: Australia's leading Formula Student team at Monash University, a regular FSUK, FSG, and FSA competitor. Comparable to OBR on engineering ambition and competition breadth, with similar EV and autonomous divisions.
Others
- Driver61: Motorsport training and media platform run by Scott Mansell that produced in-depth video coverage of OBR's car technology. Not a direct racing competitor, but an adjacent media partner serving the same motorsport engineering community that OBR targets for sponsors and recruits.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Oxford Brookes Racing social profiles
Digital presenceOxford Brookes Racing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Oxford Brookes Racing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Oxford Brookes Racing subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Oxford Brookes Racing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Oxford Brookes Racing 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 Oxford Brookes Racing
What does Oxford Brookes Racing do?
Oxford Brookes Racing is a university Formula Student team that builds single-seat electric racing cars and develops autonomous driving systems for engineering competition. The team designs and manufactures carbon-fibre-chassised cars with 4WD in-hub motors and competes at FSUK, FSCzech, FSG, and FSA events. The associated OBR Autonomous division (founded 2019) focuses on self-driving systems for Formula Student race cars, achieving consistent top-3 finishes at FSUK-AI competitions.
Is Oxford Brookes Racing a public or private company?
Oxford Brookes Racing is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Oxford Brookes Racing founded?
Oxford Brookes Racing was founded in 1999. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Oxford Brookes Racing based?
Oxford Brookes Racing is headquartered in Headington, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Oxford Brookes Racing make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Sponsorship is the primary driver. The others are university Funding.
Who are Oxford Brookes Racing's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AMZ Racing (ETH Zurich), University of Warwick Racing, TUfast Racing (TU Munich), Delft University of Technology — DUT Racing, Cambridge University Racing (CUSF), Imperial College Racing, University of Bath Racing (UBR) and Stuttgart Rennteam (University of Stuttgart). Monash Motorsport is listed as an emerging player. Driver61 is listed as an others.
Does Oxford Brookes Racing have an API?
No public API is recorded for Oxford Brookes Racing.
What industry is Oxford Brookes Racing in?
Oxford Brookes Racing's product category is Motorsport Competition / Engineering Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAJAJ, Motorsport Driver Training Schools & Racing Academies, with a secondary code of IMACACAC, Electric Drive Unit / E-Axle Manufacturing (Motors/Inverters/Gearboxes). Its NAICS code is 711211 and its SIC code is 7948.