Celebrating two decades of University of Liverpool Motorsport

Posted on: 2 March 2026 in Community

On Saturday 7 February over 130 alumni, students and staff gathered at the Hilton Liverpool City Centre to celebrate a major milestone in the history of University of Liverpool Motorsport: its 20th Anniversary.

The evening marked the completion of the team’s twentieth Formula Student car. Since first competing in 2006, Liverpool has designed, manufactured and raced a brand-new car every single year. Twenty cars represent far more than a numerical achievement; they reflect twenty generations of students who have taken on the challenge of delivering a complex engineering project under intense time pressure.

Two Decades of Evolution 

A visual timeline of the team’s history charted its progression from early internal combustion designs to today’s electric vehicle platform. While the team has remained consistent in size, its technical complexity and professional standards have evolved significantly to mirror the wider transformation of the automotive industry itself.

Former Team Leaders from across the years returned to share reflections on their time within the project. Hearing from those who led the very first car through to more recent cohorts highlighted both how much has changed and how much has remained constant.

Formula Student is often described as one of the most demanding student projects in engineering education, and with good reason. It pushes students technically, professionally and personally. As many alumni reflected on the night, friendships are formed in the crucible of fire that is Formula Student. The intensity of designing and building a race car in under a year creates bonds that last far beyond graduation. 

A new chapter of leadership

The anniversary also marked a significant moment in the team’s leadership. The current Senior Management Team: Lucy Creed, Amelia Rouse, and Ella West, represent the first all-female SMT in the team’s history, with Ella serving as the team’s first female Team Leader. Alongside module supervisor Dan Hibbert, they spoke about the responsibility of delivering the twentieth car and the importance of honouring the legacy established over the past two decades.

Their leadership reflects the continued progression of the team. Not only technically, through its transition to EV, but culturally, as it becomes increasingly representative of the diversity within modern engineering.

Reconnecting the network

Beyond celebrating the past, the evening was a powerful reminder of the strength of the ULM alumni network. Alumni spanning nearly twenty years of competition reconnected, shared career journeys, and offered advice to current students. Many expressed enthusiasms about becoming more actively involved with the team moving forward through mentoring, industry connections and continued support. 

Several alumni in attendance now work within companies that sponsor the team, demonstrating the long-term professional impact of the project and the cyclical nature of support within the ULM community. 

The evening also included a raffle fundraiser in support of future car development, reinforcing the shared commitment to sustaining and strengthening the team for the next generation.

Looking ahead

Twenty cars is a remarkable milestone, but it is not an endpoint. Each year, a new cohort of students takes ownership of the project, builds upon the work of those before them, and adds another chapter to the story. 

The University of Liverpool Motorsport 20th Anniversary Alumni Dinner was a celebration of engineering, resilience and community. More than that, it was a reminder that ULM is not defined by a single car or single team but by two decades of students who have dared to take on one of the most ambitious projects in student engineering. 

As the team looks ahead to its twenty-first car and beyond, the legacy continues.