Words by: Andy Lloyd – Head of Media
Images by: Jessica Seewoolall – Waltham Forest College
After a two-year journey defined by perseverance and technical preparation, Waltham Forst College has officially arrived on the motorsport stage. Making their highly anticipated debut in the Student Motorsport (SMo) Competition, the team – branded as WFC Racing – successfully completed a flawless shakedown of their newly-built Citroën C1 at Brands Hatch on March 16th.
The team, led by Theseus Joseph, Shawn Hines and Surya Suresh, supported by College Graphic Designer Jessica Seewoolall, rolled out their entry, currently awaiting its wrap and final livery, to almost perfect conditions on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit where driver Harry Sutton was waiting to put it through its paces for the first time.
A Dream Two Years in the Making
Waltham Forest College first indicated their interest in entering the Student Motorsport Competition, the world’s leading motorsport contest designed to provide real-world trackside industry experience to the next generation of industry professionals, over two years ago. Operational challenges have meant that the timeline to prepare a car was extended but, in 2026, the team is now ready to compete.
The smartly prepared WFC Racing Citroën C1 was tended to by Waltham Forest College students and staff throughout the day and ran flawlessly, with driver Harry Sutton gaining in confidence over every lap.
For Shawn Hines, Senior Lecturer in the Automotive Department, the day was a culmination of a huge effort by college staff and students to go racing in 2026.
“I am extremely proud to be here today,” said Shawn Hines. “It’s been a learning curve for us and we’re enjoying it to the fullest because, although we tried to get the car up and running before, to have it happening right now is a dream come true; for the College and for the students because it’s just something out of this world. Every department in the College wants to be involved in the racing programme and it’s just an exciting experience.”
Inclusion at the Core: The WFC Racing Philosphy
For Shawn, the test day at Brands Hatch was about more than just working through a shakedown.
“We’re going through the steps of making sure that everybody in the team knows their duties and what they’re supposed to be doing. We are very inclusive and ‘Inclusion’ is part of our College motto. We’re not leaving anybody out and everybody plays a part. It’s a wonderful experience and we’re over the moon with it.”
The team at Brands Hatch was supported by Jessica Seewoolall, graphic designer and member of the College Marketing. Jessica will be overseeing the team’s media activities throughout the season.
“Being involved in the Student Motorsport Competition is a unique opportunity for Waltham Forest College and our students,” said Jessica. “I don’t think any of our students thought that this sort of opportunity would arise and they are very excited and happy to be here.”
Capturing the Journey: Media and Marketing Integration
Waltham Forest College will be looking to take advantage of all the media and marketing opportunities that their involvement in the Student Motorsport Competition will offer.
“We want to capture everything, including all the behind-the scenes car preparation and testing,” said Jessica. “We’re especially interested in capturing our students getting practical experience. We really hope that they will take the most out of this experience and use in the future for their careers.”
For Harry Sutton, making his racing debut in 2026, the Test Day was solid step forward in preparation for the opening weekend in April.
“The students and staff have done an amazing job in preparing the car and I feel very confident out on track,” said Harry. “I can’t wait for our first races and repaying all their hard work with good results.”
The 2026 Student Motorsport Competition, part of the BRSCC Nankang Tyre CityCar Cup Championship, gets underway at Brands Hatch on April 11th–12th.