Launch event of Oxford Brookes Racing’s 2026 challenger, ‘Sylvie’

On 29 May, team members, sponsors, alumni and special guests gathered in Sir Kenneth Wheare Hall to attend the launch event of Oxford Brookes Racing’s 2026 challenger, ‘Sylvie’. Brookes student, Alice Mazurek, shares a review of the event.

The event was a celebration of nine months of hard work designing and building a brand-new car, including a chassis design and a redesigned electrical system.

With over 300 guests in attendance, the audience was presented with the timeline of the 2026 racing season, highlights from the previous year, video showcasing the team's creativity, a technical overview by the team's chiefs, and talks from platinum sponsors Silverstone Composites and Penta Patterns.

The evening marked an important milestone for the team, providing the first opportunity to unveil Sylvie and share the work that has gone into its development. Guests gained an insight into the engineering decisions behind the car, the challenges faced throughout the build process, and the dedication shown by team members across all departments.

The launch also served as an opportunity to thank the sponsors, alumni and supporters whose contined contributions help make the project possible. As the covers came off Sylvie, the excitement in the room reflected the passion, commitment and teamwork that have defined the project over the last nine months. With the launch complete, the team's focus now turns to competition season, where Sylvie will represent Oxford Brookes Racing at the Formula Student UK and Formula Student Germany events, held at Silverstone and Hockenheim, respectively.