How do you get a job in Motorsport as a race mechanic/ sub assembly in the Uk?

I was just wondering how and what did people do to get a job in Motorsport? I'm currently studying the second year of Motorsport engineering level 3 at college, I'm planning to go to uni to study a foundation degree in Motorsport engineering and do work placements along uni as its only 2 days a week. The only motorsport experience I have has is with Toro Rosso in their wind tunnel facility for 5 days a year ago. I will be starting work experience with Toro Rosso again but this time it will be every Monday and Tuesday along side college and during this up coming holiday I will be doing work experience with Glazpart (Injection moulding) in the tool room. I would love to do work experience with any Motorsport company/ team however I cannot get any apart from Toro Rosso. I have contacted most places in Banbury and Daventry and some in Silverstone. I would be thankful if anyone can give me additional advice?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/11/2013 03:49PM by Jordan Hanley.

I would read 'The Mechanic' since it adresses this in detail.

---

Grassroots rally. It's what I think about.

buy Racecarengineering, look in adverts... maybe Motorsport Snooze.

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

wear tight pants.

Being in the UK is a huge step up on all of us hopefuls here in the US. There is something about national pride and motorsports it seems. A lot of motorsport jobs in the US are pretty small time compared to working for a larger company (unless you like NASCAR).
A good friend of mine just finished his PhD, and is now working for an F1 team. The average salary of most fresh BS students here is more than what he makes. He is living out his dream though.

Also, and I cannot stress this enough, get involved with a Formula Student team. This has opened HUGE doors for me and my friends.

Wait wait wait wait.

You say 'Toro Rosso' like its a bad thing.

---

Enablers, All of you.

An acquaintance's son (Welsh) got a job with Arrow F1 team a couple years ago. There are some great opportunities over there.

I will look into this

We get a few Motorsport magazines every month at college.

I have been told University isn't that great for the practical side of things apart from a foundation degree and Formula Student isn't that good either but that was because of the organisational skills of the people who was running it.

The Toro Rosso work experience is good but it doesn't let me interact with the actual car itself as the main base is in Italy, apart from that its good for gaining knowledge and experience.

Didn't Arrows F1 team stop racing like 11 years ago?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/13/2013 08:30AM by Jordan Hanley.

How did I get a job in Motorsports?

I made enough money to retire and during my life I learned enough that I could be a value to a motorsports team. Then hired myself out at a price they could afford.

---

Jason McDaniel

Quote
modernbeat
How did I get a job in Motorsports?

I made enough money to retire and during my life I learned enough that I could be a value to a motorsports team. Then hired myself out at a price they could afford.

That is brilliant!

---

Grant Hughes

Didnt we talk about this same subject sometime last year? Between Banbury and Milton Keynes you'll find almost everything Motorsport. Besides the few companies like AP in Daventry, and both Hewland and Xtrac south of Oxford in Berks, everything is right there within commute distance.

Quote
Cosworth
Didnt we talk about this same subject sometime last year? Between Banbury and Milton Keynes you'll find almost everything Motorsport. Besides the few companies like AP in Daventry, and both Hewland and Xtrac south of Oxford in Berks, everything is right there within commute distance.

Yep. The British Gubbymint actually published a paper looking at the Souf-Midlands and said that it was in effect the "Silicon-Valley" of automotive design and engineering, and that nowhere else on earthg is there such a concentration of world leading motorsport R&D and manufacturing.

Fill up the ol Mobylette wif som premix and set off knocking on doors.
Dress nice, speak clear. And stress above all FLEXIBILITY.

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

How much practical experience are you getting on the courses you are attending?
And do you get involved with much motor sport and mechanical activities out with Uni?
There is a huge range of different jobs which fit under the remit of a "motorsport mechanic". Have you got any preferences regarding what you wish to do?
I ask this as you may find it far more fulfilling to have a hands on job covering different aspects of work within a smaller rally team, rather than being stuck pulling carbon fibre sheit out of moulds for some F1 team and never getting the chance to travel and work in the more exciting and dynamic environment out in the field so to speak.

And if you buy a Mobylette for transport, just make sure you thrash the tits off it running Castrol R premix as you turn up for the interview and most team bosses worth their salt will hire you immediately just for the smell alone!!
But run it on that strawberry scented oil and a job selling ill fitting jeans to fixie bike riding faggots may be a more appropriate career to look into....

---

Disappointingly not yet a Jackass

Quote
danster

But run it on that strawberry scented oil and a job selling ill fitting jeans to fixie bike riding faggots may be a more appropriate career to look into....

If he wants to work in F1 or any other tarmac related work then strawberry scented oil it is then! Ooooo you savage!

Oi you being maybe one of the few who'd know, where in the hierarchy of swish-a-tudinal-ness do Mobylettes, Motobecane, Fantic, and Vespas stack up from one swish to four?
(I mean we are talking working for "big manly teams" eh?)

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.