Students drive forward engineering innovation during annual race season

As the annual race season accelerates, engineering students at the University of Wolverhampton are driving forward engineering innovation. 

University of Wolverhampton Race Team (UWR) students are on track to race the Praga R1 car in the Zeo Prototype Cup and the Morgan Plus Four in the SW Motorsports Clubsport Trophy, both part of the British Racing and Sports Car Club. 

Students are also preparing the Formula Renault car as part of our Formula Foundation team, which will give Foundation Year and first-time engineers a platform from which to build their racing knowledge, and the E-Sports Sim-Racing team have created their own Twitch channel to broadcast their races live to fans and sponsors. 

It’s a time of growth and innovation for UWR, who are celebrating 10 years of racing in 2024, as they launch Wolf RS as well. This innovative project will use racing regulations to design and build a racing car with the potential to be brought to market, ensuring UWR students understand business principles as well as engineering.  

The team recently unveiled its new Praga R1 livery, which showcases the 32 team sponsors that make UWR possible, including title partner Highclear Investments, senior partner Hadley Group and the team kit sponsor and manufacturer, MyWorkWear. 

The students, studying for degrees in Aerospace, Automotive, Mechanical or Motorsport Engineering in the Department of Engineering at the University's Telford Campus, spend the race season working behind the scenes to test, engineer and address any challenges presented on the racetrack.  

The University is committed to producing graduates who can apply both theory and practice in the industry, offering them hands-on experience to equip them with real-world skills to boost their employability.     

Last year, graduates secured work for leading companies in the industry including McLaren, Chris Dittman Racing – GB3, West Surrey Racing – BTCC, K-Tech Racing and K-Tech Suspension. They join previous UWR alumni who now work in Formula 1, British GT and the engineering supply chain. 

Here are all the calendar events for UWR in 2024 confirmed so far.   

The 2024 ZEO Prototype Series started at Silverstone circuit as the first of five UK rounds, and the UWR team had mixed success, delivering a strong qualifying session before mechanical issues saw the car struggle for power during the races, leading to 5th and 6th place finishes (2nd in Class). You can watch the races on the BRSCC YouTube channel at BRSCC LIVE | 2024 SEASON OPENER @ SILVERSTONE | MARCH 16/17 2024 | SUNDAY STREAM (youtube.com) 

You can follow UWR through the season on their social media channels, @uwracing.   

For more information about courses at the University of Wolverhampton check out the website or visit one of our forthcoming Open Days. 

ENDS