Oxford Brookes Racing

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.

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

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

• Formula Student racing
• Electric racing vehicles
• Autonomous driving systems
• Student engineering team
• Motorsport competition

Headquarters

HQ city

Headington, Oxfordshire

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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

Core 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

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• Silverstone CompositesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum 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 UniversityflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold 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 MachiningflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold 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 CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting OBR Autonomous team operations and autonomous racing development.
• IMechEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitution 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.
• Driver61minorGTM or Marketing PartnerScott 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.
• 3DconnexionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBronze sponsor providing precision engineering tools and hardware for CAD/design work.
• AccucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrecision 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 SLMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides additive manufacturing capabilities through selective laser melting technology for prototyping and custom parts production.
• Bicester MotionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBronze sponsor supporting OBR operations, associated with motorsport and automotive testing facilities.
• Corex HoneycombminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides honeycomb core materials used in composite structures for racing car components.
• MarbocoteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides surface coating and lubrication solutions for machined parts and components.
• Shape GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides engineering and manufacturing services for custom parts and components.
• Spal AutomotiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides cooling and ventilation solutions for electric powertrain components.
• Tru-TensionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides tensioning and clamping solutions for racing applications.
• About EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides battery and energy storage solutions expertise for electric powertrain development.
• BOTTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides storage and workshop equipment solutions for team operations.
• ClickBondminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides specialty fasteners and adhesives for racing applications.
• MetamarkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides labelling and branding solutions for team materials and car components.
• PowdertechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides powder coating and surface finishing services for metal components.
• EMKAYminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides precision machined components and engineering solutions.
• TrimechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides precision engineering and manufacturing services for custom components.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct 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

• Xx.com/oxbrookesracing?s=20
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCPUVwLwOVuX5HUGYICBDI3w
• Facebookfacebook.com/OxfordBrookesRacing/?locale=en_GB
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oxford-brookes-racing
• Instagraminstagram.com/oxfordbrookesracing
• TikToktiktok.com/@oxfordbrookesracing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Oxford Brookes Racing