Students are tasting life in the fast lane

According to F3 Cup co-ordinator, Simon Davey, no other British university has ever fielded an outfit at such an elite level of motorsport.

The university has invested £10m in transforming the engineering facilities at its Telford Innovation Campus in Priorslee, including creating new workshops with two car bays and providing benches and professional tools to support the students' work on its own Formula Renault racing car.

The race team will take part in various races over the next few months at premier national venues including Brands Hatch, Silverstone and Donington Park as well as competing at the Snetterton 300 circuit and Oulton Park.

Highest

Davey said: "We're really pleased to see the University of Wolverhampton Racing team competing this season in F3 Cup.

"I think this could be the highest level of motorsport racing that any UK university has taken part in to-date and it will be an invaluable experience for students who are looking to move into careers in the motorsports industry."

Last year, in their debut season, the team achieved two wins and six podium finishes across world famous venues – including a memorable weekend in Spa Francorchamps, Belgium – as well as finishing fourth in the Monoposto Championship.

The new leap in technology, performance, controls and restrictions, has the UWR team starting the new season full confidence and belief that they will emulate some of last season's success.

Engineering students are taught how to run a car professionally under the help and guidance of professional motorsport engineer, Matt Fenton, and professional driver and team mentor, Shane Kelly.

David Tucker, principal lecturer in motorsport at the University of Wolverhampton, added: "The massive investment that has gone into our facilities provides a really attractive course offering for students who want to study engineering.

"We have committed sponsors on board, students have their own car to work on and we're competing in a fantastic championship with F3 Cup."

Nathan Tupper, studying for a bachelor of engineering degree in motorsport and a part of the UWR team, said: "I've always gone to motorsports events with my dad since I was five or six and I used to walk around the paddock and wonder what it would be like to be the one working in there.

"At the university we have the opportunity to learn all about the engineering side in the classroom then get some real practical experience working on the car in the paddock, stood in the pit lane and taking the car to assembly.

"Taking part in the F3 Cup Championship is going to be really exciting as we'll get the chance to go out on the circuit and see our practical work taking shape in a real, competitive environment."

n For more information about the range of engineering courses on offer at the Telford Innovation Campus, go to www.wlv.ac.uk/uwr.