Autosportfoto

Toyota supports students´ racing ambition

Student technicians at Birmingham's South and City College are ready for another season of classic touring car race action, supported by their local Toyota Centre. Vantage Toyota Birmingham has supplied a Corolla T Sport hatchback for the college's motorsport courses, helping students gain practical workshop and racetrack experience.

The team preparing the car is following the Institute of the Motor Industry's (IMI) Diploma in Motorsport. The Corolla was delivered to the college's motor vehicle centre last year, where it was race-prepared with sports components and a remapped engine management system to gain a 10 per cent increase power from the 1.8-litre engine.

Successfully entered for the pre-2005 class in the Classic Touring Car Racing Championship, it's believed to be the UK's first Corolla touring car.

Six students are chosen on a rota basis to work on the car at each race meeting, two from each level of the diploma course, giving them genuine hands-on experience of the demands of competition events. The car is driven by their course leader, Rick Moy, who holds a national racing licence.

Philip Watts, Director Motor Vehicle and Engineering, said: "We're very grateful to Toyota Birmingham for providing us with the Corolla, it's given our students a great opportunity to learn about many different aspects of motorsports engineering, all the way from the workshop to the pressure of race day itself. We're hoping we'll see the Toyota do even better this season."

Keith Edwards, Vantage Toyota Birmingham Business Centre Manager, said: "We have built a very successful relationship with South and City College as one of a number of local businesses that support its activities through apprenticeships and practical assistance.

"It is great to see how the motorsports diploma students have not only transformed the Corolla, but also done the job so well that it has real race-winning potential."

Vantage Toyota Birmingham has also used the car to help raise funds that have ensured a deserving student has been able to complete his course.

Edwards explained: "When we heard that one of the college's promising students might not be able to meet the cost of completing his diploma, we approached our contacts in local businesses, offering them the chance to have their company name on the car in return for a donation. We and the college are really grateful to those who came forward to help - Drayton Manor Park, Midshire Business Systems, Lord Combustion Services, Auto Styling, Subway and Big Johns. It was great to see the local business community pulling together to help this student continue with his studies."

This season the college's Corolla will start its season campaign at Snetterton in Norfolk on 10 and 11 May. Businesses and organisations interested in adding their support are welcome to contact Keith Edwards at Vantage Toyota Birmingham.