2025 Baja SAE Competition Wrap-Up

GMN Bearing USA’s ABEC 7 high precision ball bearings are made for high speed and heavy load applications.

GMN angular contact bearings (spindle bearings) are expertly crafted for speed, precision, & accuracy.

GMN radial ball bearings are versatile, great in small spaces & when axial loads move in both directions.

We know that not every application requires super, high-precision bearings. We stock other industrial parts from quality brands.

Our one-way sprag clutches are great for applications with low to high torque capacity.

Includes built-in ball bearing support. Supports HEAVY loads & has a high torque capacity: 53 to 588 Nm. Bore (ID) sizes: 10 to 60 mm (0.393 to 2.362 in)

Includes built-in ball bearing support. Supports MEDIUM loads & low to medium torque capacity: 53 to 267 Nm. Bore (ID) sizes: 17 to 40 mm (0.669 to 1.57 in)

No built-in ball bearing support. Good for large orders & low to high torque needs: 1 to 2673 Nm. Bore (ID) sizes: 2 to 240 mm (0.078 to 9.448 in)

A unique "non-lift-off" design without drag clips ideal for automotive builds or performance racing.

No built-in ball bearing support. Has no RPM limits & Supports high torque needs: 609 to 14,060 Nm. Bore (ID) sizes: 38.09 to 220 mm (1.499 to 8.66 in)

This heavy-duty clutch (aka a hold-back clutch) is good for high torque operations and ensures motion freezes in place. Bore (ID) sizes: 15 to 40 mm. (0.59 to 1.73 in)

Designed for HEAVY-DUTY applications that require tough durability.

Our non-contact labyrinth seals are the first line of protection for bearing systems.

The best protection for your bearing. Easy to install with a simple “drop-in” next to your bearing. No added space needed. CF seals offer 100% sealing efficiency against splashing liquids.

Protection against low contamination & splashing liquids.

Designed with grooves in the outer ring to offer more protection (than our L-type seal) against contamination and direct spray liquids. Liquid gets pushed out through outer grooves when in rotation.

Our GMN Gap Seals are plastic and a great choice for washdown applications, such as food conveyors and food manufacturing facilities

That's a wrap on the final competition of the 2025 Baja SAE season!

This year, over 100 North American (and beyond) university teams travelled across the country to put their all-terrain vehicles to the ultimate test. From Arizona, to Maryland, to South Carolina, GMN precision sprag clutches really showed up and showed out!

Cornell University baja car mid-air during a race

Photo source: Cornell University Baja team

Hosted annually by the Socitey of Automotive Engineers (SAE), these competitions put the design and business skills of engineering students to the test as they work as a team to build an off-road vehicle that can withstand even the harshest conditions.

And as a proud sponsor of 40+ teams, we're honored to support engineers of the future as they experience the challenges of real-life scenarios that may come their way.

Let's take a look at how the durability of GMN precision sprag clutches held up under pressure.

Final Results

The following are stats from the top 10 overall rankings that include GMN-sposored teams from each competition. View the full list of results on the official Baja SAE website.

Baja SAE Arizona - May 2025

1st - Cornell University

2nd - École de Technologie Supérieure (ETS)

3rd - Johns Hopkins

4th - Case Western Reserve University (CWRU)

5th - University of Michigan

6th - California Polytechnic State University

8th - Virginia Tech

9th - McMaster University

Baja SAE Maryland - June 2025

1st - Cornell University

2nd - University of Michigan

3rd - Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)

5th - École de Technologie Supérieure (ETS)

6th - Case Western Reserve University (CWRU)

7th - University of Wisconsin-Madison

8th - North Carolina State University

9th - Youngstown State University

Baja SAE Carolina - October 2025

1st - Cornell University

2nd - University of Michigan

3rd - École de Technologie Supérieure (ETS)

4th - Johns Hopkins

6th - Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)

7th - Case Western Reserve University (CWRU)

8th - North Carolina State University

GMN Visits the Track

And in special news, our very own CEO and Assistant Technical Sales Manager travelled to South Carolina for the third competition to meet some of our sponsees and get a front row seat to the action! Check out some photos from their journey:

GMN team members with the Georgia Tech baja team

The GMN crew poses for a photo with members of Georgia Tech Off Road

Cornell University baja team driver in car

Saying hello to season champions from the Cornell Baja Racing squad

Close-up of GMN clutch integrated in baja vehicle components

Close-up example of how a GMN clutch fits into a baja vehicle's system

GMN team members with North Carolina State Univeristy's baja team

Pit stop by North Carolina State University's paddock to meet the Wolfpack

Congratulations to these young men and women on a successful 2025 season! We're thrilled that GMN precision components could help make a difference in vehicle performance and durability. See you on the track next season!