Partnership highlights growing industry support for the next generation of UK engineers
Gripen Racing, the S-RC Cup team from Lawrence Sheriff School, has secured sponsorship from leading defence and security company, Saab UK, in a partnership that brings world-class engineering support directly into the hands of students.
The agreement will see Saab UK provide financial backing, professional mentorship and official team kit, while supporting the students throughout their journey in the S-RC Cup UK RC Motorsport Championship Series. More than a traditional sponsorship, the partnership is set to immerse students in real engineering culture – connecting classroom learning with industry-level thinking and professional standards.
As part of the collaboration, the team will also visit Saab UK’s Bedford facility, giving students a rare opportunity to experience advanced engineering and defence technology up close and to witness the scale and precision behind a global defence leader.
Saab commented:
Importantly, the partnership was secured through the initiative of the students themselves. As part of the S-RC Cup STEM+ model, teams are encouraged to operate as real engineering organisations – seeking sponsorship, managing budgets and developing professional partnerships. Gripen Racing independently approached Saab UK, prepared their proposal and led discussions, demonstrating the entrepreneurial thinking and professionalism the programme is designed to cultivate.
LSS Gripen Racing added:
The announcement marks a significant milestone for both the team and the championship, highlighting how competitive school-level motorsport can open pathways into high-performance engineering industries. It also reinforces a core principle of S-RC Cup: every team has the opportunity to build meaningful industry partnerships. Gripen Racing’s success demonstrates what is possible when students take initiative – and sets an example for others aiming to secure top-tier sponsors of their own.
About the S-RC Cup
The S-RC Cup is a UK-based RC motorsport championship challenging school students to design, build, engineer and race high-performance RC cars in a structured competitive format. The series integrates technical development, teamwork, strategy, media and branding to create a modern STEM+ motorsport platform.
Founded in 2025, S-RC Cup seeks to provide a long-term pathway into engineering and motorsport industries for young people across the UK.
The series is currently seeking an exclusive group of Sponsors and Partners to support the development and growth in the UK, and preparations for growth worldwide.
About Saab UK
Saab UK Ltd, a legal entity of Saab AB, is a leading defence and security company. With around 600 employees and a presence in the UK for more than 30 years, Saab operates 8 major facilities across the country, including training and simulation in Wiltshire, Seaeye underwater robotics and sensor systems in Fareham, Public Safety Solutions in Hull, a Software Technology Centre in Farnborough, and its headquarters in London.
The UK is a key country of operations for Saab, with 35% of the Gripen fighter jet sourced from UK companies, creating thousands of jobs.
About LSS Gripen Racing
Gripen Racing is a student team competing in Season 1 of the S-RC Cup Motorsport Series / STEM+ Challenge. They represent Lawrence Sheriff School from Rugby, UK, and are led by Team Principal James Juckes-Paton. They can be found on their team Instagram account: @gripen.racing
Media Enquiries
Pete Hewage
Founder, S-RC Cup
petehewage@srccup.co.uk
