Motorsport students prepare for World Rally adventures

For the seventh year in a row, Myerscough’s motorsport degree students will play a key role in the M-Sport & DMACK supported Junior World Rally Championship, with eight students heading to Corsica this week for next weekend’s opening round of the championship, the Tour de Corse.

The group were selected from nearly fifty students studying on the first and second years of the Motorsport Foundation Degree, with an additional reserve on stand-by in case of illness. All of the applicants had an opportunity to try-out for the team during an extensive assessment session at M-Sport’s Cockermouth base.

HE tutor, Simon Moss, said: ‘’The 2016-17 Higher Education academic year is almost complete and three of the students are poised to complete their two year FdSc courses, ready for their BSc year in September. They attended last year’s all-Fiesta series and as term starts in mid-September, they will have just one JWRC event remaining, which is perfect timing to allow them to concentrate on this critical stage of their education.’’

‘’The five first years have already had experience working with the College’s race and rally teams. But this will be the first overseas WRC event for all of them, so anticipation and expectations are high.’’

Myerscough College has had a strong relationship with M-Sport for a number of years, with the company being at the forefront of rally competition, meaning students taking part get a unique opportunity to work in such an environment at a world level.

Ronnie Sandham, Assistant Head of Higher Education Motorsports at Myerscough College, said: ‘’The ongoing relationship with M-Sport is paramount in the development of our students as opportunities arise from this liaison in all walks of the sport.

‘’We are extremely grateful for the commitment M-Sport show to the College. The ongoing partnership is a unique one as Myerscough are the only college in the country, and as far as we know, the world, to have the honour of sending students to such an event.’’

‘’The experience for students to work with a world rally team is priceless. A number of our students have gone on in the past to secure employment with either M-Sport or elsewhere in the industry on the back of this experience. Students with this on their CV have a distinct advantage over others and it enhances the College’s reputation too.’’

The JWRC calendar comprises six European rallies where drivers will vie for seven prizes in the 2018 WRC; the winner of each pair of events taking two prize-drives while the overall champion will secure seven rounds at the wheel of an M-Sport Fiesta R5.

The photograph shows (L-R): Back row: Head of Area Belinda Oldham, Harley Rushton, Jake Firth, Tom Jordan, Bart Lang, Assistant Head of Area, Ronnie Sandham.

Front row: Jordan Coupe, Adam Westerby, Jack Rawse, Joe Sharples.

JWRC Calendar 2017

Che Guevara Energy Drink Tour de Corse 06/04 – 09/04/2017
Rally Italia Sardegna 08/06 – 11/06/2017
ORLEN Rally Poland 29/06 – 02/07/2017
Neste Rally Finland 27/07 - 30/07/2017
ADAC Rallye Deutschland 17/08 - 20/08/2017
RallyRACC Catalunya - Rally de España 05/10 – 08/10/2017

Click http://www.wrc.com/en/jwrc/news/2016/december/jwrc-details-2017/page/4150--52-52-.html for more details.