UTech Racing Club Officially Launched
Dr. Kevin Brown (front row, 4th left), President, University of Technology, Jamaica and Mr. O’Neil Mason (right), Lecturer, School of Engineering and Faculty Advisor, UTech Racing Club share a photo moment with Team Captain of the UTech Racing Club, Mr. Andre Bogle (front row, 3rd left), and other members of the club’s executive body at the official launch of the UTech Racing Club on May 15, 2025 at the Shared Facilities Building, UTech, Jamaica Papine Campus.
The University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech, Ja) marked a historic milestone on May 15, 2025, with the official launch of the UTech Racing Club, ushering in Jamaica’s first university-based student motorsport racing team. Held at the Shared Facilities Building, Papine Campus during the Faculty of Engineering and Computing’s annual Major Projects Student Conference, the launch signified Jamaica’s formal entry into the Formula Student competition, one of the world's most respected university motorsport competitions organized by the UK-based Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). The internationally acclaimed engineering design competition enables university student teams to design, build, and race small formula-style race cars.
Dr. Kevin Brown, President, University of Technology, Jamaica
Dr. Kevin Brown, President, University of Technology, Jamaica shared that the inspiration to bring Formula Student to Jamaica began during his time at the University of Nottingham, in the UK where he witnessed firsthand the competition’s transformative impact on students. Since assuming leadership at UTech, Jamaica in September 2023, he saw the opportunity to merge Jamaican talent with world-class motorsport engineering. “This goes beyond UTech. This is a national initiative,” said Dr. Brown, noting that UTech, Jamaica aims to become the first Caribbean university to officially compete in the international competition.
The President highlighted that as Jamaica’s National STEM university delivering practical experience, “if we can show that our students can design and develop a very sophisticated electric racing car, then that will also give confidence to investors to bring their business to Jamaica.”
Dr. Brown emphasized the cross-disciplinary nature of the club, encouraging students from all faculties, not just the School of Engineering, to contribute to areas such as marketing, finance, data analytics, and project management. He called on students from all faculties to join and contribute their skills to build not only a car, but a business.
From Concept to Competition
The UTech Racing journey began in 2024 with an introductory session led by the School of Engineering which introduced students to Formula Student and laid the groundwork for the club’s formation. Since then, the membership has grown to over 200 students, with the team now in its second cohort.
Mr. O’Neil Mason, Lecturer, School of Engineering and Faculty Advisor, UTech Racing Club
Mr. O’Neil Mason, Lecturer, School of Engineering and Faculty Advisor, UTech Racing Club, explained that the aim of the Formula Student competition is not only to build the race car and compete but to provide students with real-world engineering experience, including the development of a comprehensive business plan to support their entry, mirroring the full lifecycle of a real automotive engineering project.
Through participation, students gain hands-on experience in engineering design, manufacturing, and project management. He explained that the competition brings together talent from various disciplines such as mechanical, electrical, software, and business which promotes cross-disciplinary collaboration within university teams. Participation in Formula Student will also significantly enhance students’ career prospects by equipping them with industry-relevant skills and giving them a strong competitive edge in the job market.
From an industry perspective, the competition serves as a valuable platform to identify and recruit students who are already experienced in high-pressure, project-based environments. Additionally, Formula Student fosters collaboration between universities and industry, by supporting research and development, and encouraging the transfer of innovative ideas and technology.
Industry Support and Alumni Inspiration
Guest speaker, Matthew Lee, a UTech, Jamaica alumnus, engineer and accomplished race car driver.
Guest speaker, Matthew Lee, a UTech, Jamaica alumnus, engineer and accomplished race car driver, inspired the audience with stories of growing up building championship-winning cars with his father. He shared his extensive knowledge of race car engineering, giving useful insights into aerodynamics and engine design. His personal stories brought to life the practical skills and dedication that Formula Student demands.
Andre Bogle, Team Captain, UTech Racing Club.
Andre Bogle, Team Captain, UTech Racing Club, in his remarks expressed pride in the student-led initiative, stating, “This is an excellent initiative. The students gravitate towards it.” He added, “we are excited to be a part of this and as with everything associated with the University of Technology, Jamaica, excellence is what we're after.”
Mr. Bogle also unveiled an exciting video presentation featuring a rendered mock-up of the UTech Racing car concept design, showcasing the team's engineering capabilities and innovative potential.
Join the Race!
Dr. Shallon Stubbs, Head, School of Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Computing
Dr. Shallon Stubbs, Head, School of Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Computing called on support from both academia and industry partners to join the UTech Racing journey. “We likkle but we tallawah,” he said, emphasising that UTech Racing is poised to show the world what Jamaican innovation can do, urging all stakeholders to “join the race.”
“It’s beneficial to the university, it’s beneficial to the nation. There’s so much potential that can arise out of this,” he affirmed.
Corporate Backing and Future Potential
Ms. Dionne Nugent, Director of Customer Energy Solutions, Jamaica Public Service (JPS)
Standing firmly behind the initiative, Ms. Dionne Nugent, Director of Customer Energy Solutions at the Jamaica Public Service (JPS), signalled the utility company’s support for the UTech Racing club and for national innovation in sustainable transportation.
“JPS is certainly on board to support the development of innovation. We believe in investing in young, bright and innovative minds and we believe that Jamaica is and will continue to be a leader in this e-mobility space,” she said.
How to Get Involved
The UTech Racing Club is open to students from all disciplines. Interested students can contact Mr. O’Neil Mason at oneil.mason@utech.edu.jm or visit the School of Engineering to learn more. Club meetings and technical workshops are held regularly, with active recruitment ongoing for engineering, design, business, and marketing roles.
The Vision
At the launch event, LUBIT Performance showcased one of its Visionary Ambassador's cars. Lubit Limited is a leading lubricant distributor in Jamaica, specializing in a wide range of automotive and industrial fluids. The company is also committed to advancing motorsport development in Jamaica.
About the School of Engineering
The University of Technology, Jamaica’s School of Engineering offers a wide range of engineering programmes:
Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) in Agricultural Engineering
Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) in Chemical Engineering
Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) in Civil Engineering
Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) in Electrical AND Computer Engineering
Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) in Industrial Engineering
Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) in Mechanical Engineering
Diploma in Electrical Engineering
Diploma in Mechanical Engineering
End.
Contact:
Michelle Beckford (Mrs.)
Corporate Communications Manager
University of Technology, Jamaica
Telephone: (876) 970-5299
Email: mbeckford@utech.edu.jm