The Barking & Dagenham College rally team was out in force recently at the Snetterton Circuit in Norfolk and clinched a very respectable 4th place in the 1400cc rally class.
A pit crew of 12 learners, all studying Motorsport & Automotive Engineering Technology at the College, made sure that the Fiesta was in peak condition for its first outing on the East Anglia Circuit.
“Just brilliant” co-driver Jonathan gets a taste for speed
One of the team Jonathan Davison (pictured above waiting for the ok from a track official), who is in his second year of a BTEC National Diploma in Motorsport Engineering, was promoted to co-driver/navigator when the team had to make a last-minute substitution. Despite battling fog and a number of dramatic spins the only loss of the day was a couple of wing mirrors at the tyre chicane!
“Just brilliant!” was how Jonathan said of his first experience on the track before adding “It’s quite a tough job to guide the driver, especially in the fog. I worked in the pit crew last year, so getting experience on the racetrack too is great. I really want to drive in competitions so I am hoping to do my Association of Racing Driver’s Schools qualification early next year and then get my Stage Rally National Licence.”
A reputation to live up to
“Jonathan did a fantastic job and the pit crew really were the slickest operation on the day,” said Dave Parsons, tutor and lead driver for the College’s rally team. “It was more like watching an F1 team in action,” he added “All the other teams were impressed and are keen to compete against us again. We are starting to build quite a reputation.”
Interested in motorsport and auto technology?
Barking & Dagenham College offers the ideal training ground for would-be motorsport and motor vehicle engineers. As well as learning in an industry-standard Motor Vehicle & Motorsport Training Centre, the learners get hands-on experience competing in track and rally competitions across the UK.
