Words By: Andrew Lloyd – Head of Media at Student Motorsport
Featured Areas: JP Latham – Managing Director
Photography Lead: Bernice Bradley Photography
Featured Images: Over 185 amazing featured and captioned images by Bernice Bradley & Work Experience Candidates
Social Media: Aarya Shenoy & Isabel Clark
Presenters: Max Lovejoy & Millie Johnson
Helpful Note: As with all of our press releases, coupled with the educational aspect to our motor racing competition, we will be featuring a large number of images and media (not always seen in regular motor racing media). This media has been recorded and produced by our media team and Work Experience Candidates, which we are sure you can appreciate we wish to highlight. Please ‘mouse over’ or tap the images to enlarge our grouped gallery feature images and see the captions and photographer information. On the rare occasion we capture images of anyone under the age of 16 years we will restrict content accordingly. 15 Minute read – but it’s certainly worth it!
The Student Motorsport Competition, part of the BRSCC Nankang Tyre CityCar Cup Championship, crowned new Champions at the season finale of the world’s only on-track motorsport competition for education.
The Final Race Weekend
Boston College Racing, with its Autobliss-backed #18 BCR1 Toyota Aygo and driver Stuart Bliss, took two wins and a second in class on the Silverstone International circuit to become only the second team in the four-year history of the Student Motorsport Competition, part of the BRSCC Nankang Tyre CityCar Cup Championship, to win the title.
Weston-super-Mare-based Bliss drove an almost perfect weekend to finish the season on 259 points adjusted for dropped scores, 23 points ahead of his nearest rival, Richard Jepp, in the #65 Team Northbrook Racing #65 Gen II Peugeot 107. Jepp finished on the podium twice over the course of the triple-header weekend but needed three perfect scores to have had a mathematical chance of overtaking Bliss for the top spot.
Boston College Racing made it a 1 – 3 in the 2025 Student Motorsport Competition standings when Andrew Dyer drove the team’s #15 RTW Vans & Conversions-backed Toyota to a class win and a fastest lap in the final race to overtake West Suffolk College’s Brady Pollock. The WSC ME driver had a DNF in Race Two and was sadly unable to start Race Three. Dyer and BCR had to fight hard over the weekend when a gear linkage issue caused the #15 car to fail to finish Race One.
Record Grid
Silverstone saw a packed weekend of activity for the 15 Student Motorsport Competition cars, entered by nine teams, an immensely proud moment for all involved, and a record for the world’s leading competition offering real-world track-side experience for the next generation of motorsport professionals.
A Weekend of Practical Learning: Thoughts from The Founder:
“The Silverstone finale was more than just a race weekend; like all of our race weekend events, it served as the ultimate test and a live classroom for the next generation of motorsport professionals. The intense competition we see always provides invaluable, real-world experience, allowing students to apply skills learned in their college courses directly to a high-pressure, competitive environment, and I really want to focus on and highlight some of the academic practice and elements for our post-Silverstone Final press release”, said JP Latham, Founder and Managing Director of Student Motorsport.”
Applying Classroom Knowledge in the Pitlane
“Before the teams even arrived at the race weekend, or a wheel even turns, our amazing student teams engage in logistical work, planning and meticulous race car preparation required for testing, qualifying, and the main racing events, something I learned when working in the motorsport industry when I began my professional career and a Race Car Mechanic, said Latham.
“This work, of course, continues at the circuit and includes a hands-on process that puts a vast array of academic and technical skills into practice. This process covers everything from complex mechanics and fault finding to critical applications of mathematics for setup and data analysis, and is not limited to Motor Vehicle or Engineering-based subjects and learners.
“I was thrilled to also see students honing their soft skills as much as their technical ones, with ongoing focus in education and lessons in English, communication, and team-working proving vital for coordinating efforts within the team and with officials. Team members actively demonstrated elements of management and team working capabilities, coordinating pit operations and executing quick, effective repair work under tight deadlines, a challenge acutely (to use an example) felt by Boston College Racing with their engine and gearbox changes.
“I was especially thrilled to see new team members (the new learner cohort) were also fully integrated, benefiting from vital peer-to-peer working, support, and training from their more experienced teammates.”
Team Professionalism and Commercial Focus
“As a team, we were keen to place a dual emphasis on the non-technical aspects of the competition, and see teams utilise the Silverstone Finale to showcase Team Professionalism and Commercial Activities. This focus was particularly intense given the high number of industry guests present, making the weekend a final, crucial showcase of their work-readiness.
Strong elements of professionalism, which are a core tenet of the Student Motorsport Challenge, were evident in many of the teams’ organised ‘workflow’, such as the polished presentation of the teams, and respectful paddock interactions. Simultaneously, teams showcased their commercial commitment, demonstrating success in securing partnerships and external support. This highlights that success in the competition is two-fold, demanding not only engineering excellence but also a strong aptitude for the business side of motorsport and presenting themselves at the highest level.
Race Day Duties and Engagement
“I’m proud to report that our teams’ work is always under the supportive and watchful ‘eye’ of the tutors, Student Motorsport staff, and respective circuit officials, and is positively critiqued and guided accordingly from the outset, with students taking part in scrutineering preparation ready for circuit officials’ inspections.
“Throughout the weekend, a keen focus was maintained on professionalism and always on health and safety practices, a non-negotiable aspect of professional motorsport. Away from the mechanics, we see students excelling in vital supporting roles, such as driver work involving coaching, signalling from the pit wall, and detailed performance reviewing using on-track data.
“A strong emphasis was echoed for the final race event of the season. I really wanted to see our teams fostering professional relationships, with students managing hospitality for their team members and guests, and actively engaging with officials from the BRSCC and Student Motorsport staff.
A Happy Paddock
“Crucially, while the competition was fierce on track, the paddock maintained an atmosphere of good communication and camaraderie with peers and competitor teams, alongside the general enjoyment of the other racing activities at the event weekend. The entire finale underscored the Competition’s mission: to not only develop technical expertise but also to instil the teamwork, communication, and professional ethos required to thrive, a positive mindset and environment, and to be better work-ready for a career in the high-octane world of motorsport.
“Another competitive element to the Final, of course, is the Pit Stop Challenge, an element that I am proud to have seen grow in its popularity since the competition’s early days. The teams channelled their intense preparation, practising and participating with speed and precision.” JP Latham, Managing Director of Student Motorsport
The 2025 Pit Stop Challenge: Team Northbrook Racing Claims Back-to-Back Victory
In addition to the final qualifying and three-race programme, the electrifying final race weekend at Silverstone also featured the eagerly anticipated 2025 Student Motorsport Pit Stop Challenge. This annual competition is a core part of the Student Motorsport Competition, designed to showcase the practical skills, teamwork, and resilience honed by the teams throughout the season, reinforcing the invaluable hands-on learning and work-readiness focus central to the programme.
New for 2025, the challenge was split over two days, with teams competing on Saturday afternoon in just outside the Wing garages and the remainder on Sunday morning. During the simulation, teams raced against the clock on the Nankang Tyre CityCar Cup feature race car, to complete a series of tasks, including changing wheels, adjusting tyre pressures and damper settings, cleaning the windscreen, and changing the driver.
The contest also involved volunteer students from the grid who take part in demonstrations, judging, and technical re-setting of the race car. This year, the Pit Stop Challenge was supported by three (non-pit stop challenge) competitor volunteers from Sussex Motorsports, in areas such as demonstrations, judging, and crucial re-setting of the Nankang racing car after each team’s attempt.
After a hard-fought contest, Team Northbrook Racing successfully defended their title, winning the Challenge for a second consecutive year and completing the set tasks in a blistering 2:30.47. Team Northbrook Racing previously lifted the trophy at a rain-soaked Brands Hatch in 2024. The runner-up was City College Norwich, with Sussex Motorsports and West Suffolk College finishing third and fourth, respectively.
As in previous years, the winners were well-rewarded. Nankang Tyres UK kindly provided a set of tyres as the first prize, with additional prizes generously provided by Raceparts UK and MHR Teamwear for the second and third-place finishers. The winning team were also presented with a trophy, designed, produced and presented by P1Productions, a supporter of the competition for a second season.
Our congratulations, also to all of the competing teams and our runners up, City College Norwich in 2nd place, Sussex Motorsports in 3rd place, and we recognised a close 4th place to West Suffolk College.
Industry Engagement – Thoughts from The Founder:
“The Silverstone finale offered much more than high-stakes on-track action; it delivered invaluable professional development and networking opportunities for our student competitors. The Student Motorsport paddock was buzzing with activity, welcoming influential guests and crucial partners whose presence is a testament to the competition’s role in bridging the gap between education and an inclusive, professional motorsport career”, said JP Latham.
“We were honoured to host several leading advocates for inclusion, including Evelkah Powell, Manager of Motorsport UK’s Race for Diversity programme, and Carol Glenn, founder of Next Racing Generation, a renowned Race for Diversity and FIA Girls on Track Ambassador. Carol, who has previously visited the paddock with students from the FIA programme, spent significant time with Student Motorsport Managing Director JP Latham, and our media team discussing her future plans working with Student Motorsport.
“Alongside Ollie Walsh, founder of Pitlane Development, their collective visit was a powerful endorsement of our work in pioneering inclusion. They all spent significant time observing the Pit Stop Challenge and engaging directly with our teams, providing unparalleled access to career advice and insight. Their combined input is crucial as we continue to build a truly accessible pathway, ensuring our teams benefit from industry-led guidance on diversity, equity, and career progression.
The weekend delivered essential professional exposure and validation, which is a crucial element and a strong driver for designing the competition. Mike Breslin from Racecar Engineering was present, having engaged several times with the team at Student Motorsport previously. He came to observe other elements of our competition, in particular, the practical, hands-on skills demonstrated during the Pit Stop Challenge. Mike noted the diverse makeup of our paddock, the electric atmosphere, expressing his delight at witnessing the unique breadth of talent being developed that the UK Motorsport industry needs. Furthermore, he conducted interviews with our dedicated Media Work Experience Candidates and teams, providing them with experience in professional press engagement.
“Our commercial partners played a crucial role in providing tangible professional resources and technical expertise. Joe Graham from Nankang Tyres, a key sponsor, was on hand for the full weekend, personally supplying the winner’s prize of a full set of Nankang tyres and merchandise. Importantly, Joe took time to speak with our teams about their experiences utilising the Nankang NS-2R racing tyre, which has been supplied to the competition since its inception, facilitating a direct technical exchange between the supplier and the end-user.
“Our professional support network also included Craig Blake-Jones of Paddock Speedshop, a working partner of both Nankang and Student Motorsport, who supported the transport and use of a Nankang Promotional race car and assisted with media production. Additionally, Matthew Wright from industry partner Raceparts (UK) generously supplied the second-place prize, a ‘mystery mechanics box’, for the Pit Stop Challenge, equipping the students with high-quality professional tools.
“Finally, the future expansion of the competition was a major theme, with two significant visits underscoring our commitment to widening participation. We were thrilled to welcome Waltham Forest College, with over twenty students and tutors, ahead of their competition debut in 2026. I was please to be given the chance to deliver a motivational speech, and their prospective team engaged with our current grid, giving them an invaluable insight into the dedication required to compete.
“Crucially, Carol Glenn also spoke extensively with myself about her intent to launch an additional 2026 Competition team with a London-based college, utilising her connections to provide more opportunities to young people looking for a career in motorsport. The energy and enthusiasm brought by these future teams are a testament to the competition’s expanding reach and its role as a blueprint for future motorsport education.” JP Latham, Founder of Student Motorsport
The Final Weekend Racing Action
The weekend began with testing on Friday, October 10th, which proceeded smoothly with the exception of Boston College Racing, who had to swap the engine on Stuart Bliss’s #18 Toyota.
Qualifying
Saturday dawned dry but chilly as the 15 cars prepared for qualifying. After the drama of Friday, Boston College Racing took not only class pole position but also the overall CityCar Cup pole when Andrew Dyer lapped the #15 car in 1:29.142 on his sixth lap of 10, followed by teammate Stuart Bliss who qualified 3rd overall and 2nd in class with a 1:29.158. West Suffolk College ME’s Brady Pollock, who enjoyed his first overall CityCar Cup win when the Competition last visited Silverstone in August, albeit on the National circuit, was 3rd quickest in class with a 1:29.368. The top five in class were completed by WSC ME’s Haydn Payne and title contender Richard Jepp at the wheel of the #65 TNR1 Peugeot.
Qualifying positions from five to ten were completed by the #47 Sussex Motorsports Citroen driven by Alex Jackson, Junior Gravina-Read in the #2 Brooklands Technical Racing 1 Peugeot, Ari Barker in the #87 TNR2 Peugeot, Toby Owen in the #42 SMS2 Citroen and Elliot Lettis in the #333 East Surrey College Peugeot.
The remaining qualifying positions for the record 15-car Student Motorsport Competition grid were filled by Emilia Vincent in the #174 QE Motorsport Peugeot, the #57 East Surrey College Citroen piloted by Jack Wheeler, the #222 City College Norwich Citroen with Luke Power at the wheel, Carter Steel in the #210 BTCR2 Citroen and Glenn Bee driving the #19 WSC BEE Citroen.
Race 1
BCR2’s Andrew Dyer led the field away from the grid at the start of Race One. The #15 car lost a position at the start, but was still half a second ahead of Bliss in the sister #18 car. Meanwhile, Haydn Payne, at the wheel of the #72 WSC ME HP Toyota, dropped back to 10th overall and 5th in class.
After three laps, Dyer remained in the class lead and 2nd overall ahead of Bliss, while Brady Pollock had moved up to 5th overall and 3rd in class. By the end of lap five, Dyer had started to fall back, promoting Bliss to the class lead and 2nd overall, with Pollock 2nd in class and 4th overall.
As the race entered the final three minutes, Bliss was half a second behind the overall leader and at the chequered flag was still pushing hard but was unable to bring the gap down to the overall winner Ben Spencer to less than just under 4/10s of a second. Pollock secured second in class with Haydn Payne taking the final podium position in class, his first top-three finish in the Competition 2025. TNR1’s Richard Jepp finished 4th in class, not sufficient to make a realistic challenge for the title in the final two contests.
BTCR1’s Junior Gravina-Read was 5th in class, his best class finish since the Surrey-based team entered the Competition at Oulton Park in May, closely followed by Sussex Motorsport’s Alex Jackson. NESCOT Racing’s Elliot Lettis, QEM’s Emilia Vincent, CCN’s Luke Power, SMS2’s Toby Owen, and WSC BEE’s Glenn Bee completed the Competition finishers.
BCR2’s Andrew Dyer failed to finish after completing nine laps due to the team’s continuing gearbox problems, while ESC’s Jack Wheeler was subsequently disqualified after passing under a yellow flag.
Race 2
Sunday started considerably cooler than Saturday as the teams set to work preparing their cars for the final day of the Student Motorsport competition in 2025. Stuart Bliss started from 2nd on the overall grid with WSC ME’s Brady Pollock immediately behind.
Shortly after the start, an unfortunate collision occurred between WSC’s #12 Brady Pollock and Luke Power in the #222 CCN entry and Nicholas Wilding in the #44 Globex FM Ltd Toyota. The race was immediately neutralised by the safety car, followed shortly after a red flag. The grid returned to the pit lane as the drivers involved were attended to. After a delay, the race was cancelled with the understanding that it would be re-run later in the day.
The drivers involved in the incident were taken to the circuit’s medical centre, Nicholas Wilding was taken to hospital for further attention. Everyone at Student Motorsport wishes him a speedy recovery, and we hope to see him back on the grid in 2026.
Race 2 – Re-Run
The next race, now designated Race Two, saw the grid set as per the race positions before the red flag.
BCR1’s Stuart Bliss was in 2nd overall and led the Competition class, with WSC’s Haydn Payne 2nd in class and 4th overall. TNR1’s Richard Jepp was 3rd in class. Bliss took the overall lead after six laps but was being pushed hard by Alex Foden in the #41 Citroen. At the chequered flag, it was Bliss who took his first overall win of the weekend, with Payne taking his second podium finish and Jepp in the third.
BCR2’s Andrew Dyer finished 4th in class, after making up an astonishing 27 places, which was critical if he was going to challenge for 3rd in the title standings after Pollock’s DNF. Jackson, Gravina-Read, Barker and Lettis filled the class finishing positions from 5th to 8th while Owen, Vincent, Steel, Wheeler and Bee completed the Competition finishers.
Race 3
Race Three was rescheduled to be the final contest of the BRSCC Finals Weekend, and the grid was reassembled for one last time, albeit missing WSC ME’s Brady Pollock and CCN’s Luke Power after the Race Two incident. Also absent were NESCOT Racing’s Elliot Lettis and ESC’s Jack Wheeler, the teams deciding to sit out the delayed final race.
The grid saw Haydn Payne starting from the front row with Richard Jepp in 5th, alongside Andrew Dyer on the third row. After two laps, Jepp fell back to 4th in class with Bliss moving up to 8th overall and 3rd in class.
After three laps, the safety car was called after an on-track incident, with green flag racing getting back underway with less than three and a half minutes remaining. Payne held on to second overall with Dyer now 2nd in class and teammate Bliss in 3rd.
There was, however, disaster for Haydn Payne as the young driver retired from first place to the pitlane after eight laps with a puncture, denying the WSC ME pilot his first class win in three years of Student Motorsport competition.
Dyer went on to take the chequered flag 2nd overall and his seventh class win of the season, while Bliss finished 2nd in class and 8th overall. Richard Jepp secured his second podium finish of the weekend. SMS1’s Jackson finished 4th in class with teammate Owen, BTCR1’s Gravina-Read, QEM’s Vincent, TNR2’s Barker, BTCR2’s Steel and WSC ME BEE’s Glenn Bee completing the Competition finishers.
A Word with the BCR Team Principal
For Boston College Racing’s Team Principal Lee Crisp, wrapping up the 2025 Student Competition with 1st and 3rd in the standings was an emotional experience.
“It’s a bit emotional, really, and it’s been a long time coming,” he said. We’ve tried extremely hard this year and, thankfully, it’s paid off. We’ve been able to secure two good drivers for the team in Stuart Bliss and Andrew Dyer, and all the work that we’ve put in back at Boston, and the commitment from the learners, has really paid off. I can’t thank them enough.
“Ours is not just a one-man team. It is a college team with two really good drivers who’ve supported us and passed on all of their experience. Next year, if we can come back and do the double, who knows, but we will be back in Student Motorsport in 2026, hopefully a little bit stronger than we have been this year.
“We didn’t expect to have the unreliability we’ve experienced this weekend. We had to change the engine on the #18 car of Stuart Bliss, along with putting two different gearboxes in Andrew Dyer’s car, but it’s all come together. It’s a bit emotional!”
A Word from the Founder
Student Motorsport founder and Competition organiser John Paul ‘JP’ Latham was especially delighted at how the 2025 season has played out, and particularly thrilled to have seen the grid grow with new teams and drivers emerging.
“What a fantastic finale to the 2025 Student Motorsport Competition! Huge congratulations to the entire team at BCR (Boston College Racing) and their driver, Stuart Bliss, for provisionally securing the 2025 title!” said JP Latham.
“Firstly, I want to thank the amazing team of people at the BRSCC, our organising and governing club, all our sponsors and of course, all of our supporters for the season and our final event weekend. An extension of thanks also to Nankang Tyres UK for their generous prize of a set of tyres, Raceparts UK, and MHR Teamwear for the award of the beanie hats for the Pit Stop Challenge.
“Also, thank you to all our guests who visited our Hospitality and Media awning in the Student Motorsport paddock. It was exciting to see your engagement with out teams and media team, including engaging in many inspiring conversations ahead of planning for the 2026 season.
A Resounding Thank You from The Founder: To Our Media Team & Work Experience Candidates
“Thank you, too, to our Work Experience Media Team, who provided insightful and quality social media, video, and live streaming content not only during this weekend but throughout the season.
“The level of professionalism, talent, and energy you brought to the Final at Silverstone was simply outstanding, culminating in our most comprehensive event coverage to date! This success was made possible by the dedicated management and leadership of our Head of Media, Andy Lloyd, who steered the overall media output, including drafting essential press releases and leading interviews and commentary elements, and our Head of Photography, Bernice Bradley, who directed the stunning visual coverage.
“We are immensely proud of what the collective eight of you, Andy, Bernice, Katie Wells (Assistant Photographer), Amiee-Grace Stevens (Photographer), Aarya Shenoy (Social Media Candidate), Isabel Clark (Social Media Candidate), Millie Johnston (Presenter), and Max Lovejoy (Presenter), achieved. Together, you collectively captured the wonderful, high-octane elements of the competition with flair and precision.
“Our brilliant team was everywhere! You captured the raw emotion of the final podiums, the dynamic speed in track pictures, and the victorious smiles at the end of the season competition, including our Champions photos and coverage.
“The weekend’s non-stop action, from the pit stop challenge to the poignant end-of-season team pitlane pictures, was documented flawlessly. Our presenters, Millie and Max, conducted superb interviews with drivers, students, and guests, bringing the atmosphere of the paddock directly to our followers. At the same time, our social media candidates, Aarya and Isabel, ensured our channels were buzzing with real-time updates and engagement. Meanwhile, the photography team, led by Bernice, along with Katie and Amiee-Grace, tirelessly worked to capture every angle with truly stunning quality.
More Than Just a Weekend
“This phenomenal weekend performance is a perfect capstone to the dedication you’ve shown throughout the entire season. We also want to give special recognition and thanks to the brilliant photographers who contributed their stunning work to our coverage earlier in the year but were unable to join us at the Final: Natasha (Tasha) Williams, Ewan Chen, and Isabella Graney. Your images were vital in telling the story of the season.
“Your collective commitment has elevated our presence and allowed us to tell the inspiring stories of our students and teams with authenticity and flair. The value of this support to us cannot be overstated. You’ve been the voice and the eyes of Student Motorsport.
For you, we know this journey has been an invaluable experience. You leave with a rich portfolio of professional work, practical skills forged under real-world pressure, and, perhaps most importantly, a robust network of friends and professional contacts made within the exciting world of motorsport.” JP Latham, Managing Director of Student Motorsport
Looking Ahead
As we successfully validate our first year of our formal dedicated work experience programme, we are so excited to see the next steps in all of our work experience and student team members’ careers. We wish you the very best of luck in all your future endeavours. You have bright futures ahead of you!
We also want to extend a special thank you to all of the team at the BRSCC (British Racing and Sports Car Club), whose continued support throughout has been crucial in making this work experience and running of our competition a reality for us, our students and competition teams.
A massive thank you must go to Emma Brown for her unwavering support all season long. Her tireless work on logistics and hospitality ensured that our paddock was a friendly and welcoming place for our Founder, JP Latham, our staff, all our work experience students, and our guests. Her contribution truly helped foster the positive atmosphere we pride ourselves on.
Thank you, team, for your passion, your hard work, and your contribution to Student Motorsport!
“Finally, thank you to all our teams and their leaders, students and learners who made this the most rewarding season so far for myself, my supporting team, and the Student Motorsport Competition. It was great to see not only the hard work and determination from all of our students but also the teamwork and friendship, which is what makes this Competition so special for those taking their first steps into the motorsport industry.
“Planning has well underway for the 2026 season, and early indications are that the grid will be even bigger and stronger, so we can’t wait to be back on track next year. In the meantime, we are looking forward to celebrating the achievements of all our teams in our ongoing media, and of course, look forward to crowning our Champions and Award Winners at the BRSCC Awards Evening in December!”
The Final ‘Provisional’ Student Motorsport Competition Standings have been published on our ‘Competition Standings’ page here.