USC Racing - Formula SAE Team

What USC Racing - Formula SAE Team does

USC Racing is the University of Southern California's chapter of Formula SAE, an entirely student-run organization that designs, constructs, tests, and races high-performance autocross racecars in collegiate engineering competitions. Founded in 1997 and headquartered at the USC Viterbi Baum Family Maker Space (910 Bloom Walk, Los Angeles), the team competes against universities globally in Formula SAE IC events in Michigan, Lincoln, and Las Vegas, and is open to all majors and years at USC. Its primary external stakeholders are corporate sponsors—Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Chevron, Airtech, MoTeC, Wilwood, and others—who fund operations in exchange for racecar logo placement, recruitment access to USC engineering talent, and association with STEM education. The team also participated in NASCAR's Clash at the Coliseum showcase starting in 2021.

The team's products are annual purpose-built racecars (designated SCR XX) featuring multi-element aerodynamic packages, carbon fiber composite panels, RWD chain-drive drivetrains with limited-slip differentials, electronic paddle-shift transmissions, MoTeC M150 ECUs, custom 3D-printed intake manifolds, and simulation-driven suspension setups. Engineering work is organized across eight subteams (Aerodynamics, Composites, Drivetrain, Powerplant, Ergonomics, Chassis, Electronics, Suspension) with a parallel Business subteam handling fundraising, sponsorship, and outreach. Recent cars include SCR 25 'Fatti' (2024-25; first podium in team history with 3rd in Autocross), SCR 24 'Sassi' (2023-24; 11th in design), and SCR 23 'Candi' (2022-23; first design finals appearance, 8th of 121 teams). Technical partners include MoTeC, AEM Electronics, Kvaser, TotalSim, VI-grade, Drexler, and Wilwood, providing ECUs, data acquisition, simulation, and brake systems.

Revenue is generated through corporate sponsorships, alumni and individual donations (routed via viterbi.usc.edu/racingfund), and fundraising rather than commercial sales; no pricing model or revenue figures are publicly disclosed. As a non-profit collegiate extracurricular organization, USC Racing's 'customers' are effectively its sponsors, and the team's 'product' is its annual racecar and the talent pipeline it produces.

Name

USC Racing - Formula SAE Team

Legal name

USC Racing

Website

https://uscformulasae.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

USC Racing is the University of Southern California's entirely student-run Formula SAE chapter, designing, building, and racing annual autocross racecars in collegiate competitions while offering corporate sponsors brand visibility and recruitment access to USC engineering talent.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Collegiate Motorsport Engineering

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (33992)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948)

akta.pro primary industry

University/College Club Sports Programs (MPAKACAK)

Keywords

• Student motorsports team
• Formula racecar engineering
• Engineering education program
• Collegiate racing team
• Vehicle dynamics research

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

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, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Personnel

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

USC Racing is an entirely student-run organization at the University of Southern California that designs, constructs, tests, and races high-performance formula-style autocross racecars. The team competes against universities from across the globe in Formula SAE competitions (Michigan, Lincoln, and Vegas). The engineering team is organized into eight subteams covering aerodynamics, composites, drivetrain, powerplant, ergonomics, chassis, electronics, and suspension.

Product overview

USC Racing is an entirely student-run organization that designs, constructs, tests, and races high-performance autocross racecars for Formula SAE competitions. The team competes against universities from across the globe, with cars designated as 'SCR' (SC Racing) followed by a number. The current competition cars are SCR 26 (in development), SCR 25 (2024-2025 season, placed 36th/120), SCR 24 (2023-2024, placed 36th/119), and SCR 23 (2022-2023, placed 33rd/121). The engineering team is organized into eight subteams covering aerodynamics, composites, drivetrain, powerplant, ergonomics, chassis, electronics, and suspension. The organization operates with both engineering and business subteams, engaging in competitions, fundraising, sponsorship, and community outreach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SCR 25 (Fatti) 2024-2025 Formula SAE IC Michigan competition racecar (Racing #131) that placed 36th out of 120 teams. Features 4-element front wing with footplates and custom whiskers, 5-element rear wing with adjustable AoA, half-car undertray, carbon fiber composite panels, RWD with chain drive and Drexler Limited Slip Differential, electronic paddle shifters, 600cc Yamaha R6 engine with custom titanium headers, MoTeC M150 ECU, and custom LCD Dash.
• SCR 24 (Sassi) 2023-2024 Formula SAE IC Michigan competition racecar (Racing #105) that placed 36th out of 119 teams. Featured a redesigned aero package, simulation-driven suspension setup, and custom LCD dashboard with MoTeC electronics.
• SCR 23 (Candi) 2022-2023 Formula SAE IC Michigan competition racecar (Racing #74) that placed 33rd out of 121 teams. First USC car to complete all Dynamic events since 2018. Featured 3-element front wing with twisted elements, 3-element rear wing with swan neck mounts, first generation undertray, and won #1 in brakes and Top 3 in aerodynamics.
• Bambi 2022 Formula SAE Michigan competition car that placed 16th in the IC event. Featured 3-element front and rear wings, 600cc Yamaha R6 engine with custom 3D-printed intake manifold, custom PDM and Alternator disconnect device PCBs. Won the 2023 Clash at the Coliseum against UCLA.
• Corporate Sponsorship Program Sponsorship package offering companies brand visibility through logo placement on racecars competing in Formula SAE events, direct connection to motivated USC engineering students for recruitment opportunities, and association with STEM education and innovation. Designed for corporate partners seeking engineering talent pipelines and brand alignment with student motorsports.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, supporting and strategic.

• USC Viterbi School of EngineeringcoreOthersPrimary institutional sponsor providing the team with access to facilities including the Viterbi Baum Family Maker Space, funding, and academic support for the Formula SAE program
• ChevronmajorOthersCorporate sponsor providing financial and material support for the racing team
• BoeingmajorOthersCorporate sponsor supporting the team's engineering and racing efforts
• Lockheed MartinmajorOthersCorporate sponsor supporting the team's engineering and racing efforts
• Northrop GrummanmajorOthersCorporate sponsor supporting the team's engineering and racing efforts
• AirtechmajorOthersSponsor that invited USC Racing to attend CamX show to showcase their car and interact with industry professionals
• AEM ElectronicscoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides electronic control systems and data acquisition technology for the racecars including ECUs and data logging equipment
• Epsilon3supportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology sponsor providing software solutions for the team
• MoTeCcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides advanced engine control units (M150 ECU), expanders, and data acquisition technology for racecars
• KvasercoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides Memorator data loggers for vehicle data acquisition and performance monitoring
• SKF BearingssupportingOthersProvides bearing components for drivetrain and wheel assemblies
• MK Metal ProductssupportingOthersMetal fabrication sponsor providing custom metal components for the racecar
• TotalSimsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSimulation software sponsor supporting aerodynamic development and analysis
• VI-gradesupportingTechnology or IntegrationProvides simulation and testing software for vehicle dynamics development
• Corsa PerformancesupportingOthersProvides performance exhaust components for the racecars
• FJ MercedessupportingOthersCorporate sponsor supporting the racing team
• Isabellenhütte USAsupportingOthersProvides precision measurement and resistor components for electronics systems
• RBC BearingssupportingOthersProvides bearing solutions for drivetrain applications
• ETM GraphitesupportingOthersProvides graphite components for high-temperature applications
• NASCARstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSC Racing participated in NASCAR's Clash at the Coliseum in 2021, showcasing their car on home turf in a collaboration with NASCAR professionals
• WilwoodcoreOthersProvides high-performance brake components including PS1 calipers with adjustable bias for racing applications
• DrexlersupportingTechnology or IntegrationProvides limited slip differential technology for improved drivetrain performance
• SupertrappsupportingOthersProvides performance muffler systems for custom exhaust configurations

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Georgia Tech Racing: Georgia Tech's Formula SAE team. Direct peer with a multi-decade track record of formula-car builds and IC competition participation in the same series as USC Racing.
• UC Berkeley Formula Racing: UC Berkeley's Formula SAE team. Direct peer in the same Southern/Western California academic ecosystem, designing and racing formula cars in the same Formula SAE series.
• Carnegie Mellon Racing: Carnegie Mellon's Formula SAE team. Direct peer — engineering-focused student-run racing program competing in the Formula SAE IC series.
• Stanford Formula Racing: Stanford University's Formula SAE team. Direct peer: also a US West Coast elite-private-university student-run program that designs, builds, and races formula-style autocross cars in the same Formula SAE competitions.
• MIT Motorsports (Formula SAE): MIT's Formula SAE program. Direct peer: elite engineering-school student-run racing team competing in the same Formula SAE IC competitions with similar engineering subteam structures.
• UCLA Formula Racing: UCLA's Formula SAE program and known USC rival (the teams competed directly in the 2023 Clash at the Coliseum). Operates the same way — student-run, annual car build, IC competition entry.
• Virginia Tech Formula SAE: Virginia Tech's Formula SAE program. Direct peer and consistent top-10 finisher in the same Formula SAE IC competition events that USC Racing enters.
• University of Michigan Formula SAE: University of Michigan's Formula SAE team. Direct peer and longtime top performer in the IC series that USC Racing competes against annually in Michigan.
• Purdue Formula SAE: Purdue's Formula SAE team — perennial IC competitor in the same Formula SAE series, providing a directly comparable engineering-school student-run racing program.

Broad incumbents

• Formula SAE (SAE International program): The governing organization that runs the Formula SAE competition series USC Racing competes in. Provides the rule set, event structure, and overall program framework against which all peer teams, including USC Racing, are benchmarked.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=BMeMoNOeF7c&t=19s
• Facebookfacebook.com/USCRacingFSAE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/usc-racing
• Instagraminstagram.com/uscracing

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 USC Racing - Formula SAE Team