Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
We build better cars when every member can contribute fully. This page sets out what that means for Oxford University Racing in practice: our policy, our welfare structures, who to talk to, and what we are doing about it.
Our commitment
Motorsport has a long-standing diversity problem. As a student-run Formula Student team, we treat that as something to actively solve rather than a status quo to manage around. We welcome members across all dimensions of identity, including gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, disability and neurodivergence, religion or belief, and socio-economic background.
Our full Diversity, Equity & Inclusion policy and Code of Conduct set out what we expect of every member, how we recruit, and how we measure progress. Both documents are available on request.
Welfare & Inclusion Officer
Jon Soepadmo, in addition to his role as Technical Manager, serves as Oxford University Racing's Welfare & Inclusion Officer. He is the team's confidential first point of contact for any member who wants to raise a concern about welfare, inclusion, or conduct.
Concerns can be raised informally with Jon, formally in writing to the Team Principal, or externally to the Department of Engineering Science Welfare Lead or the University Harassment Service. Reports are kept confidential and retaliation against anyone raising a concern in good faith is itself a breach of the Code.
Confidential contact: welfare@oxforduniracing.com
Where we are today
Results of an anonymous team-wide DEI survey, November 2025. n = 41 responses. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding and prefer-not-to-say responses.
Gender
Ethnicity
International members
Secondary schooling
LGBTQ+
We are honest about where we still fall short — particularly on gender balance, where women and non-binary members make up roughly 22% of survey respondents. Closing that gap is an explicit goal for the 2026 recruitment cycle.
What we are doing
- Measurement. An anonymous team-wide DEI demographics survey is run at least once per season, with results published internally and used to inform the next recruitment cycle.
- Welfare structure. A named Welfare & Inclusion Officer on the leadership team, with three independent reporting routes (internal, departmental, university).
- Recruitment reach. Open positions are advertised through at least one channel aimed at under-represented groups in addition to general channels, and we state explicitly that no prior motorsport experience is required.
- Inclusive operations. Workshop sessions are published in advance with daytime options; PPE is stocked in a full range of sizes; major religious observances are acknowledged in team planning.
- Outreach. We use our visibility to run outreach aimed at state-school students, women, and other groups under-represented in engineering and motorsport.
- Allyship. OUR supports Racing Pride, the international movement for LGBTQ+ inclusion in motorsport.
Get in touch
If you are a prospective member, a partner organisation, or a journalist with questions about our inclusion work, we are happy to talk. For welfare concerns, contact Jon directly at the address above. For everything else, use the team contact form.
Contact the team