Students steering towards the right track
University of Wolverhampton racing are continuing to steer their way into the hearts of local petrol heads while helping students achieve real-life experience.
The student racing team are racing and maintaining a Formula Renault 2.0 in this year's Monoposto 2000 Championship.
It is their first season as a team, and they are currently fourth in the 26-strong standings, with two race meets to go.
And team spokeswoman Tara Andrews believes it is the only way for young engineers to get the real experience.
She said: "We've gained quite a few local fans. Dave Tucker is our team principle and also a lecturer at the University. All of the other lecturers are really into it.
"The students have really taken to it, too, and in particular the young engineering students. It's such good fun and a great way for them to get hands-on experience.
"These days jobs are a constant cycle of not having enough experience and the guys are all doing what they love. Why would you not want to do it?"
Shane Kelly is the racer for the University team and, thanks to expert work behind the scenes by keen engineering students, has guided them to podium finishes at Silverstone, Spa and Brands Hatch.
This weekend they take to Donington Park for the penultimate round of the season, which finishes in Oulton Park on October 10.
Andrews added: "We must be the only people praying for rain this weekend. Everybody thinks we're mad!
"The other teams race Formula Three cars, so we are 10mph down in straight-line speeds. The wet evens things out and Shane is confident in the conditions.
"It will be a great one because it's fairly local and some of out Campus fans who can't travel to watch us will be able to come along.
"We have a big team and we all stick together and try and do everything together in the race weeks. It's like one big family here at the moment. We just want to keep racing!"
