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Ex-Formula 1 deputy team principal Bob Fernley has partnered with ROKiT to launch a junior engineering development programme, particularly aimed at encouraging those from “diverse backgrounds” to work on a historic F1 car.
Former Force India and McLaren employee Fernley owns the Ensign F1 car that finished the 1981 Monaco Grand Prix sixth in the hands of Marc Surer, and has launched the new ‘Fast Track to Formula 1’ project in conjunction with the University of Bolton.
The group tested at Anglesey recently with three-time F1 race winner Johnny Herbert behind the wheel, and has targeted further outings at Brands Hatch in August and at next year’s historic Monaco Grand Prix.
“With Lewis Hamilton calling for greater diversity in Formula One, it certainly attracted our attention that forty-seven of the 196 NCME [National Centre for Motorsport Engineering] students are from an ethnic minority background,” said Fernley.
“Our Fast Track to Formula One project, in conjunction with the University of Bolton, is the most exciting project of its type with NCME students actually working on a proper Formula One car that has been raced for real around the world.
“There are so many youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds who don’t have the money to take part in what is a massively expensive sport who are missing out on motor racing and Formula One.
“We want to help change that because both Jonathan [Kendrick, ROKiT co-founder] and I understand what it means to start with nothing in life, which is why we are acting as benefactors to Fast Track to Formula One to try to bring on new, young talent that otherwise would never have the opportunity to surface.”
Kendrick added: “I’m delighted to be backing Fast Track to Formula One with Bob because British engineering is renowned the world over and we want to encourage more young people – particularly those from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds – to aim for the sky in motor sports.
“The students are working on proper Team Ensign Formula One cars that have been raced for real.”
