How Oxford Brookes Racing prepares high school students for F1
Oxford Brookes Racing (OBR) is Oxford Brookes University's Formula Student team, founded in 1999 and considered the most successful in the UK in this competition. The team is not a recreational club: it's where students take on real engineering roles with responsibilities that are recorded on their CVs.
This article details how OBR operates, what happens to its former members, and why this changes the perspective for anyone planning to build a career in motorsport engineering from Oxford.
What is Formula Student and why does it matter for F1?
Formula Student is an international competition for university students, held annually at Silverstone, in the British Motorsport Valley. Teams from over 20 countries design, build, and race formula cars.
Teams are evaluated on two axes:
- Static events: design, cost analysis, business plan
- Dynamic events: acceleration, skid pad, endurance
What sets Formula Student apart from conventional lab projects: students defend their technical choices before a panel of professional engineers invited by the organizers. A wrong decision affects the car's actual performance on the track.
How is Oxford Brookes Racing structured?
OBR replicates the model of professional motorsport teams. Each member takes on an area with reporting to a technical lead.
The team's work areas:
- Fluid Dynamics (aerodynamics, CFD, wind tunnel)
- Composites (carbon fiber structure)
- Vehicle Dynamics and Suspension (vehicle dynamics, setup)
- Powertrain (engine, transmission, energy management)
- Electrical Integration and Hardware Electronics
- Systems and Testing (validation, testing protocol)
- Vehicle Controls and Software (electronic control, autonomy)
- Statics (cost, business plan, design analysis)
OBR also maintains OBR Autonomous, the driverless car team. In 2025, the electric team finished 3rd out of 59 teams at Silverstone. The autonomous team placed 2nd among 26 international competitors. In 2024, OBR finished 3rd overall, winning 8 trophies.
Who from OBR went on to F1?
Competition results are one indicator. What truly stands out in portfolios are the actual career paths of former members:
- Garrett Perry, Composites Lead at OBR: Design Engineer Graduate at Jaguar TCS Racing (Formula E/F1).
- Ben Jude, Driver Environment Lead at OBR: Mechanical Engineering Graduate at Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains.
- Tiger Lee, Fluid Dynamics Lead at OBR: Associate Aerodynamics Design Engineer at McLaren Formula 1 Team.
- Sara de la Vega, Vice-Director and Suspension Co-Lead at OBR: Mechanical Design Engineer Graduate at Andretti.
Four different roles within OBR, four distinct paths to the pinnacle of motorsport. Oxford Brookes states that at least one graduate from the university is present in every active Formula 1 team.
The path to working in Formula 1 typically involves early practical exposure, and OBR is one of the most tangible structures available within a university.
Who can join OBR?
The team is open to all enrolled students, regardless of their course of study. No prior motorsport experience is required.
How to join:
- Join during Freshers' Week (recommended time) or throughout the year
- Attend the "Learning Sessions" offered by OBR for new members
- Take on a role in a technical or support area based on your profile and interests
Roles such as marketing, events, and statics (business plan, cost analysis) are filled by students from various fields. Technical roles on the car are more often filled by engineering students, but the entry criterion is a willingness to learn.
How does OBR relate to the engineering curriculum?
Participation in OBR is not separate from the curriculum: it is part of the pathway to becoming a Chartered Engineer (CEng).
The Motorsport Engineering and Mechanical Engineering courses are accredited by the IMechE and by the IET, bodies that recognize OBR's work in the certification process for Chartered Engineer. The curriculum covers two phases:
- Early years: dynamics, materials, electronics, fluids, and thermodynamics
- Final years: vehicle dynamics, aerodynamics, lap time simulation, data acquisition
Two market indicators are worth highlighting:
- In 2024, 62 placement positions were confirmed in a single cycle, a record for the university. Two students joined Aston Martin F1 during their internship.
- The average starting salary for Oxford Brookes Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics graduates is £30,000, according to HESA.
The engineering exchange in the UK shows why Motorsport Valley has no equivalent in any other country.
Frequently asked questions about Oxford Brookes Racing and a career in F1
Does Oxford Brookes Racing accept students from any course?
Yes. OBR is open to all enrolled university students. The entry criterion is a willingness to learn, not the original course of study. Technical roles on the car are more common for engineering students; support roles are open to any field.
What is OBR's "Autonomous team"?
OBR Autonomous develops the team's driverless car for the Formula Student autonomous vehicle category. In 2025, it placed 2nd among 26 international teams at Silverstone. The team works with perception, control, and trajectory planning systems.
What's the difference between a BEng and an MEng for those aiming for F1?
The BEng is a 3-year program and partially fulfills the requirements for Chartered Engineer status. The MEng is a 4-year program and covers all requirements for CEng. Senior technical positions in F1 teams typically require an MEng or an additional postgraduate qualification, such as an MSc in Racing Engine Systems.
What are the English language requirements for international students?
All engineering courses require an overall IELTS score of 6.0, with 6.0 in reading and writing. The MSc requires 6.0 in all four skills. Students who do not yet meet this score can enter via the Engineering Foundation program (1 year), which accepts an overall IELTS score of 6.0 and 5.5 in listening and speaking, with guaranteed progression to the BEng or MEng.
Be Easy: boutique study abroad consultancy
Be Easy has been an officially verified representative of Oxford Brookes University since May 2026, guiding students who want to build this career path with clarity, from identifying the right course to preparing their application. If you're interested in motorsport engineering in the UK, we offer the expert guidance you need to find the program best suited to your profile, with the support of a dedicated senior consultant at every step. To explore your options and take the next step, contact us.
