News release: UCLan graduates in pole position

Abstract

Motor Sports students at the University of Central Lancashire are popping the
champagne corks as their very own team, UCLan Racing, sped away to victory last
weekend by winning the premier European event for Kent engine Formula Ford cars.
The team, staffed entirely by students on the motor sports degree and aided by driver
Dave Fricker were competing in the prestigious "Kent to do" King of Kents class at the
Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch. Driving an 1989 Reynard, Dave was in the lead
from lap two, winning by an almost unheard of margin.
UCLan Racing, based in the Department of Technology was set up when the University
launched its motors sports course in 1999. It is the only student racing team in the
country. The team got off to a flying start last season and ended by clinching the North
West Formula Ford Championship with a twenty point lead over their nearest rivals.
Course tutor Liam Humberstone is proud of the team's recent performance and says:
''The idea that a student team can compete with the best in a national event is
remarkable, but the sight of the car leading the event by over 14 seconds beggared
belief'.
Team manager and second year student Matt Besent, who has previous experience of
the professional motor racing world, says: "It is really good to manage a group of
people who knew nothing about racing last September but are now winners of a national
championship".
23 October 2002
nr195pc
-ends-
Note to editors: For further information about UCLan Racing, please contact Liam
Humberstone, Department of Technology, tel: 01772 893252, or Rachel Fielding,
student team member 07764 494542.
For information about the University of Central Lancashire motor sports courses, please
contact John Calderbank, Department of Technology, tel: 01772 893259.