With racing having a real moment in the spotlight - thanks to the latest season of Netflix’s Drive to Survive and the 2026 British Touring Car Championship recently revving back into life, students have never been more tuned in to the world of motorsport.
But how many people does it actually take to get a car like Lewis Hamilton's or Alex Albon’s across the finish line? (Williams might be an odd choice, however did you know that the Williams F1 base is a 10-minute drive from the RM Tech HQ?). While the drivers get the podium, the real magic happens behind the scenes with the data analysts, software engineers and designers etc.
On 17th April, 60 Year 9 and 10 students from four schools (Fairfax Academy, Erdington Academy, Smith’s Wood Academy and Bournville School) within the Fairfax Multi Academy Trust spent the day at Donnington Park Circuit, as part of the Race Team of the Future project. Hosted by Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, MBP, HP with Intel and RM Technology, the day was designed to showcase how the classroom curriculum connects with the real-world.
Putting the pedal to the STEM metal
The morning was a whirlwind of activity, with students split into 10 teams to explore the inner workings of a professional race team. Between exploring a real BTCC racing car and focusing on the different type of complex data teams can analyse, the students also took on the "driver protection challenge". This involved using an egg to represent a driver, getting teams to use their design and technology skills to create effective crash protection. Thankfully, we didn’t see any students cracking under the (tyre) pressure.
These hands-on sessions gave the students the context they needed for the day's big task: building their own Race Team of the Future. From naming their race teams and designing logos to deciding on their core values, every student had a key role to play. They even had to design a unique innovation that would help their team stand out from the pack. It was brilliant to see them using HP technology to bring their liveries and business plans to life, highlighting that the skills they learn in school will have a direct usage in the professional world.
The secret to keeping 60 teenagers engaged isn't just about the cars; it’s about the pace. As Michael Hartley - a massive racing fan who manages the relationship between RM Technology and Fairfax MAT - noted, the day was structured to ensure there was zero "time to be bored". By rotating through varied, high-impact tasks, every student stayed on track and on task.
60 Year 9 and 10 students from the Fairfax Multi Academy Trust took part in the experience.
Pole position for the future
At the end of day, each team stepped up to the ‘podium’ to present their Race Team of the Future strategy. They had to justify their branding, their tech innovations, and their core values to their peers.
Points were awarded for everything from design logic to team attitude, and the competition was incredibly tight. In the end, the top team walked away with the ultimate prize: a pair of tickets for each team member to witness a 2026 British Touring Car Championship race day in person.
"It was great to see the students really embrace the opportunity. Very few people get the opportunity to spend a day in a live race paddock, work with a race team’s engineers and designers to build a new team concept, get hands-on with a real race car in the garage and meet the drivers in person. It really highlighted the plethora of careers that span from a race team."
Max Feneck, RM Technology’s Go-To-Market Director
Teams stepped up to the ‘podium’ to present their Race Team of the Future strategy.
Real-world experts, real-world impact
What elevated the event from “another school trip" to a life-changing experience was the on-site experts. Students spent time with new MB Motorsport drivers Gordon Shedden and Árón Taylor-Smith, as well as Technical Advisor and Race Engineer, Craig Porley.
Seeing a professional engineer explain complex aerodynamics or data telemetry truly brought the curriculum to life. When students watch an expert use the same kind of design software they might use in their computing lessons, the bridge between schoolwork and a dream career can click into place.
“The opportunity provided students with an exceptional insight into the breadth of careers within motorsport. Working alongside a professional race team in a live paddock environment — from collaborating with engineers and designers to engaging directly with the car and drivers — brought learning to life in a way that is rarely possible. Experiences like this are invaluable in helping young people understand the real-world applications of their skills and aspirations.”
Steve Huntington, Principal of Smiths Wood Academy
