Racing day at Oulton Park Circuit!

On Saturday 10th May, Brooklands Technical College marked a significant milestone in its racing history with its return to competitive motorsport. The Brooklands Racing Team participated in their first qualifying race at the Student Motorsport Fun Cup Event at Oulton Park Circuit. This event marked the college’s first participation in racing in ten years, reigniting the passion for motorsport across departments and the wider college community, continuing our rich history of motorsports racing. 

Brooklands Racing Team, comprising of Marios Katzis (Team Principal), Junior Gravina-Read (Deputy Team Principal and racing driver), Darren Bainbridge (racing driver & motor vehicle lecturer), Constantine Hambi (Level 3 Motor Vehicle learner), and Anthony Hughes-Rodriguez (Foundation degree student from London South Bank University) represented the college.

The journey to the Oulton Park race was a difficult challenge for the team as initial testing on Friday 9th May revealed unforeseen challenges, including damage to the race car. With a smashed window and a clutch replacement required, the team had to jump into action as they would otherwise be disqualified. 

Darren and Anthony travelled to Liverpool and every breakers yard in between to source a new door and replace the glass. Repairing the race car in time was crucial to the team’s success, they were under a lot of pressure to fix the car in time to ensure it reached the racetrack. Many learners from several different courses at the college had been working tirelessly to build the car in time for the races at Oulton park. The race car was a real team effort amongst students and it was a great source of pride to see their project make the track. Students had built the car up from a stock Peugeot 107, and were responsible for designing components, welding, testing and tuning the car to its final form, all under strict race regulations and guidelines from the BRSCC and Student Motorsport organisations.

The race itself was thrilling and a brilliant example of collaboration and sportsmanship between colleges, as Constanine Hambi explains: “This race was a good insight in how the world of motorsport functions, from the highs of seeing the car race, and the lows of the car not completing due mechanical failure. I’m really excited about the future and cannot wait to be back in the pits at the next race. It was really good fun and the team were amazing. The other teams were really helpful and there was good comradery, with the opposition also helping each other”.

The team will continue their bright racing journey with their next race at Anglesey in June, with future plans to improve the reliability of their race car and bring a championship win back to the home of motorsport.