Boston College enter the Student Motorsport Challenge

Boston College CityCar Cup Championship and Student Motorsport Challenge entry and their students outside their workshop in Licolnshire
Boston College CityCar Cup Championship and Student Motorsport Challenge entry and their students outside their workshop in Licolnshire

Before the dust has had a chance to settle after the Croft weekend, Boston College Racing Team have announced they will become the latest entry to the Student Motorsport Challenge and Nankang Tyre CityCar Cup Championship. They will join the grid from Anglesey rounds in June.

Lincolnshire-based Boston College have progressively developed motorsport courses over the years, starting with Karts as an enrichment activity for entry level learners to experience motorsport at their local circuit. Unsurprisingly, popularity grew and a brace of L1 to L3 motorsport courses were developed. The college also runs Automotive courses including Hybrid and Electric and as apprenticeships.

The teaching team have a range of professional real-life experience in rallying and both open and closed wheel circuit racing, expertly guiding students through the fundamentals of karting and on to more advanced operations through the courses.

Lee Crisp from Boston’s Automotive Technologies and Motorsport recognised the opportunities that competing in the Challenge presents their college and students:

The Student Motorsport Challenge will give the Team the opportunity to use both their skills and knowledge to prepare a race car for a real racing environment and the chance of working as part of a team to further build on all important communication and real-life skills. The Challenge will also allow them to showcase skills to others at race events but also improve on the employability skills required to obtain employment in this industry.

It will give the Team members the opportunity to engage with other Curriculum areas in the college, too.

Boston College's Citroën C1 Challenger in their workshop
Boston College’s Citroën C1 Challenger in their workshop

BCR will enter the CCC Championship and Challenge with a purchased and race-ready car for 2023. Despite not being able to spend the time building a car in the workshop, Lee highlighted the benefits of entering mid-season and how passionate and determined the students have been when presented with the project:

After first announcing that we would be considering entering the challenge the L3 learners started a project, from finding a car to the logistics required to have a fully prepared team. The learners want to have the opportunity to see all their work come together when we launch the Boston College Racing Team (BCR) and want to support the first ever race.

It would have been great to purchase a donor car and build the first race car at BCR but due to time commitments it was agreed with the Team that we purchase a new build ready for the track to compete in the last 5 rounds of 2023 series as to gain the experience ready for a second home build car in September ready for the full 2024 season. The learners have the opportunity to learn the car as they are currently preparing ready for round 3 Anglesey.

Hearing of Boston College’s plans, Student Motorsport’s Commercial and Partnerships head Patrick Hathaway was excited to see another area of the UK represented and believes the Challenge/CCC formula is going to produce grid in 2024 that will turn heads in the industry.

Boston have been working very hard to get to the grid so it’s fantastic to see them join and see another part of the UK represented. I know they would have liked to build a car, but it’s a testament to the teaching team that rather than wait, they have acquired a race-car to give themselves a run-in to a full campaign next year and use 2023 to learn the ropes. I don’t doubt they’ll want to be at the sharp end, though.

The fact they are considering a second build and potential two-car team from September for 2024 just shows the strength of the formula, and we have the BRSCC to thank for that, of course. With the fantastic CityCar Cup as our base and the resources we’re providing, the Challenge is cementing itself as a cost sustainable option for a college to go motor racing and provide a sturdy platform to train students to a higher level than before. 

We have a number of competing and interested colleges looking at multi-car teams, so we’re in discussions about how we can support those that want to do that further.

As for Boston College’s season ahead, Lee summarised what the Challenge really means to his students:

It’s very exciting times for the Team as they are now working to a date and as one learner said, ‘it feels so real and I cannot wait until I can see the car on the track knowing that I am part of the team who prepared that!!!’

The next weekend of the Student Motorsport Challenge is at the Anglesey Circuit on the 24th and 25th June and the Challenge will be striving for another record-breaking entry list.

Teams can still join 2023 at a discounted rate and lease or buy race-ready cars from our partners Garage 23

2024 registrations are now open at an early bird rate with all-new package options. contact enquiries @studentmotorsport.com for more.