News

Team ESC: Second in the Student Motorsports Championship!

On Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 October, our Motorsports team at East Surrey College headed to Silverstone International Circuit to undertake the Student Motorsport Challenge – The Final.

After a thrilling league of racing throughout the past seven months, our team was heading into the final with 162 points, 15 points ahead of other Colleges and Universities. You can read about our previous successes here: Oulton Park Event 1, Snetterton Event 2, and Snetterton Event 4.

A previous win from Snetterton Circuit - Rounds 3 and 4

It was a game of cat and mouse on Saturday for our professional driver Andy Burgess, as he was on the hunt to capture Northbrook College and Oxford Brookes University in the first two races (Rounds 16 and 17). After some battling with other teams and sustaining some body damage, we achieved the necessary third-place victories that placed us in the winning position.

Motorsport students and staff working on the car before round 17

Sunday – The Final Race
The moment we were all waiting for, the Student Motorsport Challenge’s final race. Students from our team had their game faces on and were described as true professionals for their responsible and well-behaved manner and for knowing exactly what to do in the pits.  

Sadly, our luck ran out in the final six minutes of the Challenge, when Andy Burgess took a hit to the rear bumper which resulted in the car spinning off the track and into the barriers. Luckily there were no injuries, but due to the car being severely damaged, the team was unable to continue, and the car was written off.

Out of eight College and University teams we are pleased to say we came second in the Student Motorsport Challenge. Despite this being the College’s first year of being involved in a motorsport championship, our students and staff are thrilled with the outcome; the learning curve for our Motorsports Level 3 student has been immense and the team has really pulled together.

Motorsport Level 3 students set up for a tire change

Jayne Dickinson, Chief Executive of Orbital South Colleges commented; “The work completed by staff and students within the Motorsports and Motor Vehicle department has been fantastic, motivating us all. The efforts towards the Student Motorsport Challenge have been tremendous.  Our students have developed new skills at industry standard.  Their very many successes are testament to the excellent teaching, support, and encouragement they receive from dedicated staff". 

George Keith, Motor Vehicle Co-ordinator and Motorsports Lead added: “It’s been an incredible racing season, and something our staff and students have been eagerly looking forward to month on month. Although we didn’t take home the title of the Student Motorsport Champions, our team has worked immensely throughout the Challenge, and we are all proud of the achievement. We’re thankful to have taken part in this opportunity as it has allowed us to provide an excellent working experience for students by developing real-life hands-on skills they can take into the industry!”.

East Surrey College Motorsport Car - (taken: 6 April 2022)

We’d like to thank the organisers, our sponsor Boss Dog for wrapping the car, and Andy Burgess our professional driver.

Once again, a huge congratulations to the Motorsports Department for their remarkable dedication and hard work throughout the Student Motorsport Challenge.

If you’re interested in Motorsports or Motor Vehicle courses, you’ve come to the right place. Check out our courses starting in September 2023 here!