Southampton-built formula racing car finds a new home at the National Motor Museum

The single-seat racer, engineered by University of Southampton undergraduates, has been retired after several seasons challenging for top spot in the Formula Student competition.

The petrol-powered vehicle was nicknamed Stag 6 by the young team and becomes the only formula racing car of its kind in Beaulieu’s famous collection and has gone on display in the Collections Centre at Beaulieu for all visitors to our Learning programmes to see throughout 2024.

The National Motor Museum and Southampton University Formula Student Team (SUFST) have been working together since 2021. The National Motor Museum together with Beaulieu are a sponsor for the SUFST team, a partnership that has seen SUFST provide several live displays of motorsport engineering at the museum and a variety of engaging presentations for visitors to our Learning programmes.

Benedick Swann, Learning Manager at the National Motor Museum explains, “Formula Student is a race category for track car racing that is entirely funded by monies raised by students who have to manage the team like it was a professional outfit. SUFST is a student-run organisation within Southampton University with the aim to design, build, and compete with single-seater race cars in Formula Student competitions. Their team is comprised of students with a mixture of cultural and academic backgrounds with every department within the team filled with dedicated and determined personnel of all abilities.”

“The Stag 6’s 600cc engine, which was taken from a motorbike, was purposely limited to around 75 brake horsepower for the Formula Student competition. The team has since moved to EV power and the Beaulieu and National Motor Museum sponsored Stag 8 Electric finished first in Formula Student Overall Static Events, Faraday Institution Best Newcomer EV and Formula Student Sim Racing Winner categories in 2022.”

“Many of the students involved in Formula Student move on to roles in F1. The National Motor Museum is proud to be a sponsor of SUFST and delighted to have Stag 6B on loan in the Collections Centre for 2024.”

Final-year student Keira Byrne, who led the Southampton team, has already landed her first job at Aston Martin's F1 outfit and will start after graduating next summer. She said: “It’s wonderful to see something we built from scratch being displayed at the museum alongside some of the world’s most famous vehicles. Our car looks a little different from everything else at Beaulieu so it really stands out.

“We hope it shows children who love motorsport like we do that getting into the sport is attainable and you don’t need much background or experience to start.”

The Formula Student competition sees those from universities across the UK build and race their cars at the biggest tracks in the country, including Silverstone. It is a tournament which the University of Southampton has been contesting for the last decade – but only the Stag 6 car has come close to winning it, finishing runner-up last year.

Fellow students Max O'Brien, who himself is joining Red Bull’s F1 team, and teammate Ash Johnson added: “It’s a mixed bag of feelings to see the Stag retire after so many years of hard work and success on the track, but it’s great that we are part of Beaulieu’s history. There are a few zip ties and welding marks here and there on the car, but it shows the real effort of our team to get our hands dirty to be successful.”

The Stag 6 is to be seen in the National Motor Museum Collections Centre at Beaulieu – entry to the Collections Centre is by appointment – ask at the visitor centre for details.

Watch a video of the Stag 6 car arriving at the Collections Centre at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu.