Oxford Brookes University hosts inaugural motorsport event in brand new Headington Hill building
The future of sustainable motorsport engineering took pole position as Oxford Brookes University’s new Headington Hill Building (NHHB) hosted its first ever event.
Students, staff and guest speakers attended the Motorsport Battery Research Symposium in the innovative new Teaching building at Headington Hill on Wednesday. The event included talks on automotive battery research, high-performance electric vehicles, and the future of motorsport engineering.
The morning session saw industry experts deliver keynote addresses, including battery research specialist Professor David Howey from the University of Oxford.
This was followed by a panel discussion on future battery development challenges in motorsport. The panel featured Sergio Rinland, Oxford Brookes Associate Lecturer from the Masters Motorsport Programme, and Adriano Schommer, a Battery Test Engineer and Project Manager at Oxford Brookes Racing, the University’s student race team.
Workshops led by battery technology organisation About Energy and software specialists MATLAB, Simulink and Simscape provided attendees with an insight into advanced simulation tools, enhancing their understanding of battery modelling and performance optimisation. These sessions were designed to help explore how simulation tools can be used to improve battery systems and overall vehicle efficiency.
In the afternoon, Douglas Campling and Glen Pascoe of renewable technology company Fortescue Zero gave a talk about clean energy and electric vehicle projects. This was followed by Julian Grajales, Race Director and Head of Research and Development at racing team DS Penske Formula E, talking about the real life challenges and future of Formula E.
Later on, the work of the University’s own Formula Student racing team, Oxford Brookes Racing was highlighted, following the team's successful shift from a combustion-engine vehicle to an electric model.
The day finished with presentations from Oxford Brookes representatives Adriano Schommer, Battery Test Engineer, Dr Davide Sciortino, Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering, and Sajad Najfi Shad, PhD Researcher. They talked about the development of ‘digital twins’, virtual replicas of physical battery systems that simulate their real-world behaviour, as well as the use of test data from the Oxford Brookes Battery Test Consortium to help improve the design of Formula Student race cars.
Denise Morrey, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Head of Centre for Batteries, Electric Vehicles and Electronics at Oxford Brookes,commented: "It was fantastic to see such an engaging and insightful exchange of ideas at the first ever event held in the new Headington Hill Teaching building. The symposium brought together leading experts, passionate students, and industry pioneers, sparking thought-provoking discussions on the future of sustainable motorsport. The energy in the room reflected the excitement and innovation driving this field forward, and it was a privilege to host such an inspiring event in our brand new facility.
“As the transition to Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) accelerates in the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Oxford Brookes has reinforced its commitment to innovation and research. The University’s newly established battery testing laboratory, along with its renowned High Voltage and Energy Storage Group, played a key role in facilitating this symposium, showcasing its expanding capabilities in battery performance research.”
James Arkell, Head of Powertrain at high-performance engineering company RML Group, said: “The Motorsport Battery Research Symposium was a fantastic event bringing industry experts and students together to talk about next-generation developments in electric and hybrid racing. It was such an honour to be part of the panel discussion, I thoroughly enjoyed sharing knowledge and learning from others throughout the day on such an innovative topic. I hope the event has inspired others to pursue a career in motorsport and follow such an exciting path to creating a more sustainable future.”
More information on the new Headington Hill site buildings can be found on the University website.
