Motorsport students from the University of Bolton are celebrating after their team won the Historic Classic F1 race at Silverstone today by a margin of more than seven seconds.
Top driver Michael Lyons started on pole position in the 1981 Ensign 180B historic F1 car, which has been prepared by the students from the University’s National Centre for Motorsport Engineering (NCME).
Mark Busfield, Director of NCME, who pioneered the course at the University of Bolton with a dedicated team of Industry and academic specialists in 2017, said he was delighted with the result.
He added: “This is truly wonderful following yesterday’s strong qualifying performance.
“The team has really worked extremely well and it’s great to see such an amazing result, after the months of preparation for this event”.
Michael Lyons racing the Masters Historic Formula One at The Classic – Silverstone
The iconic Ensign car has been loaned to the University by Bob Fernley, a motor racing stalwart, who has run teams on both sides of the Atlantic in Can Am, IndyCar and F1.
The classic car had been put through its paces in track tests at RAF Marham and the Anglesey race circuit.
Bob said today: “I can’t be more pleased for the students who have put all their time into the preparation of the car to see the rewards of all the aerodynamic testing undertaken this year.”
Race 2 at The Classic at Silverstone is tomorrow (Sunday 1 August) at 1.40pm and the team hopes to continue its advantage on track.
The student-run team continues its analysis of the car from this programme that started last year with Johnny Herbert driving the car.
Press release University of Bolton
