North Kent College Motor Vehicle students got a front-row seat to the world of professional motorsport during an action-packed visit to Brands Hatch recently.
The students got trackside at the GT Championships held at the iconic course and spent time exploring the inner workings of the industry, meeting teams, and seeking out opportunities to kick-start their own careers in the motorsport industry.
The highlight of the day came for Jess Wood, who secured a weekend work placement with an Aston Martin team. The team won their class in all three races, giving Jess some real hands-on experience and the change to build valuable industry contacts.
Several other students also made professional connections on the day, with one being offered a potential placement with a Ginetta team. The visit also included a chance to check in on three current North Kent College students already working in the Fiesta Championship, one of the UK’s premier junior racing championships.
In a surprise moment for the group, students bumped into reigning British Touring Car Champion Jake Hill, himself a former North Kent College Motor Vehicle student, who studied at the College back in 2010.
Kevin Pilcher, Head of Curriculum for Motor Vehicle at North Kent College, said: “It was a brilliant day for our students, who were professional, enthusiastic and a credit to the College. Opportunities like this give them a real sense of the careers they can pursue and how to get there.”
“We’re proud of the strong relationship we’ve built with Brands Hatch, they now use us as their sole provider of student placements for full-time workshop roles, and that partnership is helping to drive forward our Motorsport course and is a testament to the calibre of our students.”
Students studying a Motor Vehicle course at North Kent College benefit from top class facilities that include a fully functioning garage, diagnostic centre and workshops. All staff have worked in real commercial garages and retain contact with industry.
To learn more visit the Motor Vehicle page of the College website.