Western New England University

SAE Baja Team

Designed, built, and raced by students since 2014

Our students design and build an off-road racing vehicle from the ground up, then test it and race it against schools from around the world at SAE International’s annual Baja competition.

This Year: GBR4 Team History
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This Year’s Focus

Project GBR4

GBR4 marks the fourth Baja vehicle designed and built by Golden Bear Racing since the team’s start in 2014, and it’s set to be our most capable yet. Built on over a decade of experience, GBR4 is being engineered to push the limits of what our team has accomplished, with the goal of becoming the highest-performing vehicle in Golden Bear Racing history.

2014
Team Founded
4th
Vehicle Build
11
Competitions
Golden Bear Racing team with the car at Baja SAE New York 2026 Baja SAE New York · 2026

Latest Result

Baja SAE New York

22of 102 teams

2026 Finish

Twenty-second overall out of 102 teams at Palmyra, New York, with our strongest endurance run in recent years, backed by top-30 finishes in hill climb and the business presentation.

Endurance 16th Business 24th Hill Climb 28th Design 29th
Official Baja SAE results ↗ Read the WNE news story ↗
Full History

Highlights

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The team trailer with the Golden Bear logo on the highway heading to competition
Golden Bear Racing team walking together at Baja SAE New York
GBR4 undergoing technical inspection before competition
Team members working on GBR4's engine under the tent
GBR4 in the team tent with the crew working around it
The team gathered around GBR4 with officials during the event
A team member standing in a deep rut on the course, showing how rough the terrain is
Teams walking the course past a rubber fish someone planted in the dirt
Teams walking the course past the rough terrain with the crowd spread along the bank
Team members resting beside GBR4 between sessions
A driver in race suit celebrating with teammates before a run
A driver seated in GBR4 while a teammate helps prepare the car
The team gathered around GBR4 in the paddock with the driver seated
Close-up of a Golden Bear Racing driver in helmet and goggles
Crew pushing GBR4 up the access road under a blue sky
Crew rolling GBR4 out of the paddock with the driver aboard
The crew walks GBR4 out to the starting line
GBR4 head-on with its front wheels off the ground
GBR4 cornering hard and throwing up dirt
GBR4 sweeping through a grass section marked out with hay bales
GBR4 turning through a grass section lined with hay bales
GBR4 running a grass section of the course
GBR4 kicking up a trail of dust across the field
GBR4 climbing a dusty hill on the endurance course
Side view of GBR4 at speed on the dirt course
GBR4 catching air over a jump
GBR4 launching off a jump with a flag marshal watching
GBR4 picking a line through the obstacle section
GBR4 lifting its front wheels over an obstacle
GBR4 climbing a steep dirt bank at an angle
GBR4 climbing a dirt bank as spectators watch
GBR4 working a bermed dirt section of the course
GBR4 working through rough terrain with the suspension articulated
GBR4 running a wooded section of the endurance course
GBR4 on a steep section of the course
GBR4 running the course alongside another team's car
GBR4 running wheel to wheel with another team's car
GBR4 running alongside another team's car
GBR4 on course in front of a line of spectators
Cars lined up on course during the competition
GBR4 up on two wheels in a cloud of dust
GBR4 on its side after a rollover during a run
GBR4 takes the checkered flag at the end of a run
The crew pushing GBR4 back through the paddock after a run
Team and spectators gathered around GBR4
Team members hanging out with a football between sessions
Teammates laughing together at the competition
Team members sitting together in camp chairs between competition runs

Photos by Scott Vo, cboglephoto, and Kaylee Martinez

Explore

About the Team

History

Team History

Every car and every competition since our 2015 debut.

View Results →
Team

Meet the Team

The executive board and sub-team leads behind GBR4.

Meet Us →
Sponsors

Our Sponsors

The partners who make every build and every race possible.

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Become a Part of the Team

Golden Bear Racing is open to students of every major and experience level, with hands-on work spanning engineering, manufacturing, and business. Reach out through our socials to find out how to get involved.

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