Cranfield University runs a Masters Degree in Motorsport Engineering and Management and aims to attract the highest calibre students. In recent years, the grant money that was available to help these students stopped and the university saw a sharp drop in both the quality and quantity of students applying for the course.

Patrick Head, Director of Engineering at Williams F1, and a trustee of the Grand Prix Mechanics Charitable Trust, recognised that this situation could have a detrimental affect on the calibre of motorsport engineers coming into the industry and raised the matter with his fellow trustees.  They decided to offer a bursary to selected applicants who would otherwise not be able to do the course.

The applicants are vetted and proposed by the course director at Cranfield and in 2005, a single bursary was awarded to mature student Jamie McWhir.

In 2006, the Trustees decided to double their support and committed to fund two bursaries annually. The Bursaries are to help subsidise studying and living expenses for students doing the one-year postgraduate degree, which starts in September each year.

The Trust’s chairman, Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, said:
“The postgraduate course that Cranfield provides attract high calibre individuals, some of whom have come straight from their first degree in engineering and others who have spend some time in industry since graduating. Either way, potential candidates usually have some serious financial commitments by that stage in their career and receive little or no funding to encourage them to continue to study.

“With their education completed, they are likely to play a significant part in the future of the motorsport industry in the UK, so it is appropriate for the Grand Prix Mechanics Charitable Trust to offer support in the form of a bursary to help sustain the quality of applicants.”

Jamie McWhir, the first student to be awarded a bursary by the Grand Prix Mechanics Charitable Trust meets Sir Jackie Stewart OBE

Jamie McWhir, from Manchester, was the first student to be awarded a Motorsport Bursary fund by the Trust, and it supported his study during the academic year 2005-06. He said:

“Being a more mature student, not only did I struggle to ensure I had the funds for doing the course and supporting myself and family, but I also had to consider how I would continue to contribute to a mortgage and bills  that are associated with having your own home to support away from college.  The bursary made a huge difference to my financial situation for the coming year, allowing me to focus on my studies and not worry about whether I would get through the year financially.

Applications for the 2008-09 course are now being received by Cranfield University in Bedfordshire. Interested parties should visit www.motorsport.cranfield.ac.uk

Cranfield’s post-graduate level education programme has led to careers for ex-students with WilliamsF1, Honda Racing F1, McLaren Racing, Ferrari, Red Bull Racing, ToyotaF1, M-Sport, Prodrive.

Further info:
Dr Jeffrey R Alcock, Course Director, Cranfield University,
Tel: 01234 754038 | Web: www.motorsport.cranfield.ac.uk

Ann Wood, Administrator, Grand Prix Mechanics Charitable Trust,
Tel: 01896 820263 | Web: www.gpmechanicstrust.co.uk