University of Bolton motorsports engineers test class F1 car

Students at the University of Bolton's cutting-edge National Centre for Motorsport Engineering (NCME) tested a car driven by Grand Prix champion Johnny Herbert as part of a two-day aerodynamic and chassis test at The Anglesey Circuit in North Wales.

The team were able to get their hands on a 1981 Ensign 180b historic F1 car, loaned to the University by Dr Bob Fernley, a motor racing veteran, who has run teams on both sides of the Atlantic in IndyCar and F1.

Project Ensign is supported by two millionaires to help young people from all backgrounds enter the sport after fears it is becoming more difficult for those from a working class background to enter motor racing.

Dr Fernley 40 years ago worked on the red, blue and white-liveried Ensign Formula One car and is part of his personal collection of historic cars.

The aim is to race the Ensign at the Masters Historic Festival at Brands Hatch on August 22, with the students working alongside seasoned veterans to get the Ensign ready for action.

Dr Fernley, together with fellow millionaire benefactor Jonathan Kendrick, who both hail from humble upbringings themselves, are passionate about their desire to attract students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds.

Dr Fernley said: “Bringing in people like me and giving them a chance is what this is all about.

“There has long been the feeling, outlined by Lewis Hamilton so eloquently, that women and people from the BAME community are missing from motor racing and Formula One.

“We want to change that, which is why Jonathan and I are acting as benefactors to try to bring through new, young talent that otherwise would never have the opportunity to surface.”

Jonathan, who worked with the famous Williams team in F1, grew up on a council estate in Wolverhampton and was expelled from school aged just 15.

He said: “I jumped at the opportunity to take part. As Lewis Hamilton has reminded us so forcefully, this is a time when children and teenagers need the opportunities to grow and develop and the University of Bolton is providing that.”

Mark Busfield, Director of NCME, said: “The team was a group of four NCME students and university staff headed up by the car’s original chief mechanic.

“The Ensign ran like clockwork for two days and the team have now established a significant amount of data to analyse.

“We have achieved a great set up for the race at Brands Hatch.”

This is the NCME’s first venture into Formula One.

Mark said: “This is the exotic end of motor racing and Jonathan and Bob are anxious that we find students who can make their way in a world that they would normally be excluded from."