A babble of voices and tense expectations filled the building forum at the Lübeck University of Technology on Friday afternoon, May 22, 2026. It is the day that the Formula Student team has been working towards for a year: the 2026 rollout Seagulls Lübeck. A countdown is running on a large screen. The object of the evening stands at the edge of the stage, still covered and shielded from view. The new racing car SG07E or Peaches.
Tobias Vorwerk will be moderating this evening. He is an alumnus, a former team member since the Seagulls were born and a member of the support association. Vorwerk has witnessed every development or picked up the screwdriver itself. The rollout not only marks the presentation of a new racing car, but also represents the development of a team that takes up technological progress and consistently implements it.
Courage to explore new paths as a basis for innovation and agility
With the new racing car, the team is further developing its young electric vehicle concept and thus reaching the next technological milestone. The Seagulls already took the step away from the combustion engine last season.
This decision was not an easy one, because after five combustion engine racing cars, the high level of experience ensured success in the competition. But what would a Formula Student team at a technical university be without the courage to develop further? It quickly became clear that the development potential and a look into the future became the driving motivations.
The Chancellor of TH Lübeck, Yvonne Plaul, also praised the willingness to pursue new paths: Deciding to do so anyway last year and still has my complete respect. It shows very clearly our understanding of research and development. Only when we leave the beaten path and dare to leave the successes we have already achieved behind us can something new emerge!
In order to advance such technological developments, the team not only had to develop a new vehicle concept, but also acquired new skills within the team. As a university of applied sciences, the TH Lübeck offers students an experimental space with the Formula Student team Seagulls; This allows them to try things out, learn and at the same time apply what they have learned practically.
The transfer of knowledge in both directions: students and teachers learn from each other
Looking back, workshop manager Stefan Bollmann says that the transition from combustion engines to electric mobility was not an easy one. For example, there were technical hurdles with the mechanical components of the electrical system. Through exchanges at Formula Student events and the opportunity to take a close look at the predecessor of the SG07E with racing engineer Claude Rouelle, we were able to enter the electric racing car scene.
Premiere, with Peaches driverless on the track for the first time
Peaches today benefits from the achievements of the previous model, plus another highlight: SG07E is not only electrically powered, but is also equipped with an autonomous driving function for the first time. This enables the vehicle to sense its surroundings, determine its own position and make driving decisions independently.
The issue of safety was also a focus. Various safety systems and an externally controllable emergency brake system ensure that the vehicle can be stopped by the team at any time. In addition, further measures prevent the racing car from intervening autonomously in manual driving mode.
In addition to the software, numerous design changes were also made. By changing the material from the previous structural steel as a basis to high-strength racing steel as well as other design changes, the torsional rigidity was significantly improved. With Peaches, the students have created a high-tech racing car with an attractive and modern vehicle design.
Interdisciplinary collaboration at the TH Lübeck
The Seagulls Lübeck bring together over 50 students from different disciplines at the TH Lübeck, and are supported by some students from the University of Lübeck. The team in the background consists of teachers from different departments, employees of the laboratories and workshops, the university administration as well as supporters and sponsors who together contribute to the success of the project.
Andreas Noe, President of the Therapy Dräger Business Unit, finds suitable words to represent the perspective of the sponsors: For us, sponsoring means partnership! What we get back is a direct look at the next generation of entrepreneurs and engineers. And honestly: that makes you want to look forward to the future!
Literally bringing common ideas to the streets is what drives them.
At the end of the evening, team members, sponsors and guests came together again in the best weather and in a relaxed atmosphere. Over a barbecue and cool drinks together, we not only toasted the 2026 rollout, but also discussed upcoming events, the coming season and new ideas. An upcoming event: Formula Student Germany at the Hockenheimring in Baden-Württemberg.