BTEC award/diploma in motorsport?

[domdogger]

HELLO

i am leaving school this year, and want to go into motorsport.

just wondered if a btec award or diploma would help with my campaign to work in motorsport.

if anyone has done it, what are you views?

[czt]

What do you want to do in motorsport?

[domdogger]

i would like to be a race mechanic

[MuseF1]

I got a Btec award in motorsport engineering and am currently studying HND engineering at university, so its a good way to go.
However what i do is more design based, a lot of maths, science and theory on car dynamics.
A good course to try would be a Race technician course if you want to be a mechanic, it is more hands-on and focused on working on the cars themselves. I know a lot of people who did that course who are now in BTCC and its support races,also F3 and GP2. Be aware that you will end up doing some 12hr shifts every now and then when you are finally in a team, especially on race weekends when the driver has a shitfight and messes the car up. also money and job security isnt that good at the start but i guess its worth it when you get into a decent position in a team.

www.nc4m.ac.uk

[czt]

A qualification like that certainly can't hurt when looking for a job - anything that differentiates you from other candidates will help.

The main thing to do if you want to be a mechanic is get experience. Offer your services to small race teams on weekends - many will be grateful for the assistance! Look for someone who is local or speak to people in the paddock of your local circuit.

[Callum]

I'm no expert but what i've learned is they want experiance, experiance, experiance. You're of no use if you can explain the complexities of fluid flow...but cant work a spanner!

[domdogger]

Thanks for the tips. But would it be better for me to do A levels and do a automotive degree?

but motorsport would be easier as the place that does it, is half a mile away from my house.

[MuseF1]

Callum is right,some of it comes down to experience. Working at your local garage or in a team on weekends will definately help.
Well the problem is there is no set route to get into motorsport. I spoke to a Vauxhall BTCC mechanic a few years ago and he started out as, Quote "the truckie's bitch washing the transporter and scrubbing tyres when i was 18"
I also know another chap who stripped and rebuilt Supra and skyline engine's for a local engine tuning company, but originally worked there as a tea boy and doing odd-jobs.

An Automotive degree if it was engineering based would take you away from being an out-and-out mechanic and more of a designer, but either way both routes, mechanic or engineer, you need some experience of building or repairing cars as a baseline. its no good an engineer telling a mechanic to strip and rebuild a gearbox in 30minutes if the job takes longer, and vice versa.
It comes down to who you are as well, you need to show commitment and be able to take orders,work well with the team members, learn quick and not mess up under pressure.

what's the motorsport thing thats half an hour away? if it's a motorsport course then i'd say do that, because from my personal view i know a lot of lads who'got in' that way

[domdogger]

well my towns college is about ten minutes from my house and that does a btec diploma in motorsport.

so would this be good? as this would be more 'fun' than A levels maths and physics.

[MuseF1]

i would recommend the diploma, I have done the same course and its very good.
as its not far from home you could try and get a weekend job at a garage or team, anything like that will look good on your cv when you try and get a job in motorsport

[domdogger]

would i be able to do a automotive design course at university after the btec course though?

[MuseF1]

i should think so. It would depends on how many UCAS points you need to get into uni. a certain amount of ucas points are given to qualifications.
However it normally says an x amount of points, or relevant qualifications, any qualification with the word motorsport in it is good if your going into automotive. You may need to do an extra course, to top up your UCAS points, but i cannot say for certain. Just remember, pursuing design will take you away from working on the cars themselves.

[domdogger]

thanks for the advice, is deeply appreciated.

[domdogger]

Ive got my interview for the motorsport course next week.

any advice?

thanks dom

[Scuderia_Russ]

I got a Btec award in motorsport engineering and am currently studying HND engineering at university, so its a good way to go.
However what i do is more design based, a lot of maths, science and theory on car dynamics.
A good course to try would be a Race technician course if you want to be a mechanic, it is more hands-on and focused on working on the cars themselves. I know a lot of people who did that course who are now in BTCC and its support races,also F3 and GP2. Be aware that you will end up doing some 12hr shifts every now and then when you are finally in a team, especially on race weekends when the driver has a shitfight and messes the car up. also money and job security isnt that good at the start but i guess its worth it when you get into a decent position in a team.

http://www.nc4m.ac.uk

Don't do it mate, it's undiluted misery!