East Surrey College (ESC) was one of the original entrants into the then-named Student Motorsport Challenge and, like every team in the history of motor racing, has seen their share of highs and lows since their #11 Peugeot 107, in the hands of Andy Burgess, took to the Oulton Park International circuit in April 2022.
That debut season for the team, then led by George Keith, saw Burgess take eight class wins and a further six podium finishes but narrowly missing out on the title due to an unlucky DNF in the final round at Silverstone.
For 2023, Jack Wheeler took over the driving duties and took four wins in class complimented by 11 additional podiums but again the squad was runner-up to a dominant Team Northbrook Racing. The season was a breakthrough year for ESC, however, with Wheeler finishing 2nd overall in four races as the Student Motorsport entries became more competitive throughout the overall CityCar Cup grid.
George Keith moved on from ESC to accept new challenges and, mid-season in 2024, Laurence Sait took over the leadership of the team. Jack Wheeler remained the driver and, in a display of the development of the fledgling race team, took four wins in class, including two overall CityCar Cup wins, on his way to a third-place finish in the Student Motorsport standings.
Sait Takes Charge at East Surrey College
For 2025, Coordinator for Motor Vehicle & Motorsport Lead Laurence Sait, now about to embark on his first full season with Redhill-based ESC, has his sights fixed on title success. Sait is no stranger to motorsport, having run his own team for over nine years after a three-year stint as Race Director at Buckmore Park and Circuit Manager at Brands Hatch.
“We’re going out to win everything this year,” said Laurence Sait. “I don’t go competing to finish second and that’s ingrained.”
But for Laurence, development for his team in 2025 represents more than just on-track success.
“The one thing I really want to push forward in 2025 is the organisation of the team and by that I don’t mean that we’re currently disorganised. It’s about handing over some of the responsibility for the team to the learners and letting them take control.”
Laurence Sait is a big believer in allowing his learners to assume responsibilities, explaining that it is only by taking responsibility, making decisions and observing the outcome that people learn.
“One of the big things I want to change is the communication and organisation, ensuring that there are particular roles for each learner to take within the team and effectively hand over from the programme being staff-driven to one that is learner-pushed and learner-focused,” he said. “So one of the big changes I’m putting in this year is that we, the staff, will transport the car to and from the venues but it’s then down to the learners as to actually how we go about racing.”
“I want to promote confidence and self-belief. The staff will be there in the background but I want to see the learners stand on their own two feet. How and where are we going to go racing? What about testing? Who’s looking after fuel and tyres? These are all areas I want to see learners step up into and we will act as facilitators.”
Impressive Determination and Grit at Silverstone
Last year saw the team undergo the transition to Laurence’s leadership so what were some of the key accomplishments that he looks back on with pride.
“Our on-track successes were fantastic and we were incredibly happy with those but the big thing I was really impressed with was the resilience of the learners. This was especially true at Silverstone where we were pulled in for scrutineering, “ said Laurence. “We didn’t end up leaving the scrutineering garage and getting back to the paddock until after midnight and there was no one lagging or complaining. Everyone, learners and staff, just cracked on and that evening will stay with me for quite some time, seeing those young kids who have just started their college course working on the race car after midnight to get it back up and running for the next day.
“That determination is something I’m seeing continue on with those learners so they’ve been able to take that away and put it into their own professional development which is superb.”
East Surrey College offers a wide range of courses covering subjects such as travel and tourism, accounting and IT, engineering and manufacturing, public services and childcare amongst many others. Laurence is now looking to see how he can involve the wider college in his department’s racing activities.
“With an OFSTED visit pending, currently other departments have restricted capacity to take on new initiatives but the intention is that after this academic year we will utilise more of the faculties that are available,” said Laurence.
Cross-Departmental Initiatives Planned
“Art and graphics would be an obvious one for car livery design and there are clear synergies with courses like Digital Production and Design. But what about travel, tourism and aviation courses where the link may be less obvious? Travel is an important part of motorsport so how can we develop that with logistics? All these plans are in the pipeline and haven’t happened quite yet but they will.”
Laurence is currently working to bring new sponsors on-board for the 2025 season and sees the value of commercial partners as more than just the financial support they can offer.
“I’m working to bring a car parts factor on board. The company is led by a friend of mine who I’ve known for many years and who started out, much like our learners, getting his qualification at college and then getting a job and moving up through hard work and determination to the point that he now owns the business.
“My big mantra is hope. I want to give our learners hope and the opportunity to see that they could do that, too. Those types of partners are the ones I’m trying to put in front of the team to get to support us.”
Learner Success is the Key Driver
Laurence is clearly at the start of a journey with East Surrey College and he sees the future success of his learners as the key measure of the effectiveness of the ESC motorsport programme.
“My intention is that this time next year I can share stories of learners who have gone and developed careers because of the East Surrey College Student Motorsport programme. If we can give our learners, using this series as an opportunity for them to develop their own skills and confidence, the chance to develop their careers then, in my book, we’ve won the day.”
The 2025 Student Motorsport series, part of the BRSCC Nankang Tyre CityCar Cup Championship, gets underway at Snetterton on April the 5th and 6th.