AS PART of their Level 3 motorsport course, students from Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT) recently saw their own racing car compete in a race day at Brands Hatch Circuit, Kent, as part of the 2019 Hyundai Coupe Cup.

The BCoT racing team gives students the opportunity to build a car for track days and races, as well as attending the race days to prepare and repair their car throughout the day.

As part of the day at Brands Hatch, the students prepared the race car with new tyres, adjusted tyre pressures and inspected the brakes to ensure it was ready for qualifying.

BCoT student and racing team member Craig Higgins said: "After successfully qualifying, our car came 12th in the first race before our driver managed to move up a place and finish 11th in the second race. Overall, it was a successful race day for the team and we could easily gain more positions as the race season continues."

Anthony Bravo, principal of BCoT, said: "Our automotive and motorsport courses ensure our students learn the skills and knowledge they need to step into the world of work, with many of our students progressing into careers as vehicle technicians, race mechanics and much more.

"The BCoT racing team is a fantastic, unique opportunity for our motorsport students to gain real-life experience and put their skills into practice in a live racing environment."

BCoT's automotive courses prepare students for a career in the automotive industry, with students getting the chance to undertake work experience with a range of local garages and attend a number of exciting trips, including the annual Autosports Show in Birmingham.