Words by: Andy Lloyd – Head of Media
Images by: Aimeè-Grace Stevens – NSCG Racing Media Producer
Student Motorsport Social Media: Isabel Clark
Stafford College, part of the Newcastle Stafford College Group (NSCG), will be launching its two-car assault on the 2026 Student Motorsport Competition, part of the BRSCC Nankang Tyre CityCar Cup Champonship, when the season gets underway at Brands Hatch on April 11th-12th.
The team, led by Motorsport Engineering Lecturer Andy Stevens and supported by Media Producer Aimeè-Grace Stevens, spent the 2025 season closely observing the SMo Competition paddock in order to glean as much information as possible before setting about building their team.
The Lineup: Karting Records and Sim-Racing Pedigree
Driving for the team, named NSCG Racing, will be Luke Sawyer and Jake Gittus. Luke is in his second year of studying Motorsport Engineering at NSCG and 2026 will be his first season in the SMo Competition. As a keen karter, Luke is an all-time record holder at Fast Lane Karting in Stoke and regularly takes part in professional sim racing championships.
Jake Gittus is a previous student of NSCG Motorsport Engineering and finished his course in 2025. Like his teammate Luke Sawyer, Jake is a keen sim racer and regularly competes in karting.
NSCG Media Producer Aimeè-Grace Stevens explained that the college’s path to the 2026 season has not necessarily always been smooth but the research that she and Andy Stevens carried out in 2025 provided a solid base on which the team could build.
“Everybody in Stafford College is new to the Student Motorsport Competition and there have been the expected challenges in preparing the team to go racing in 2026,” explained Aimeè-Grace.
“Attending races last year, getting to speak to the different teams and understanding the routes they have taken has all definitely helped. The relationship we have with JP (John Paul ‘JP’ Latham – series organiser) and the whole Student Motorsport team has been great but, like any new team, we have hit a few ‘speed bumps’ along the way!”
NSCG Racing used a unique recruitment approach for their drivers, with simulator time providing part of the input that led to the appointments of Luke Sawyer and Jake Gittus.
“Jake has been around the build as much as he can,” explained Aimeè-Grace. “As he works full-time, he helps out when his time permits and he has worked hard to build a good relationship with the team members. Luke, because he is studying at the college, is always keen to get ‘hands-on’ and be involved as much as he can.”
2026 Objectives: From Race Team to Family
Stafford College has set realistic expectations for their debut season.
“Our objective, for our first year in the Student Motorsport Competition, is just to do the best we possibly can,” said Aimeè-Grace. “Our drivers Jake and Luke have got their own personal aims of where they want to be over the course of the season and our objective is to support them in their aims. We want to build our squad and become more of a family than just a race team.”
Student Motorsport founder and Competition Organiser JP Latham is delighted to see Stafford College join the grid for the 2026 season.
“It’s been a huge privilege to work so closely with, and support, another new team like NSCG,” said JP Latham. “Their unique approach, particularly with the integration of esports and fashion, is incredibly innovative and shows the kind of forward-thinking that is driving the growth of our competition.
“I’m immensely proud to see a team with such a clear vision join us as we embark on our fifth season.”
The 2026 Student Motorsport Competition, part of the BRSCC Nankang Tyre CityCar Cup Championship, gets underway at Brands Hatch on April 11th-12th.