TWO FORMER students will be flying the flag for Wiltshire College Motorsport when they embark on a new campaign in the Heart of England Rally Championship.

Jacques Jensen and Dan Stanton studied with Wiltshire College before graduating with BSc Honours degrees in motorsport engineering in 2012.

And the duo, who both work for Melksham-based Avon Tyres, are now actively pursuing their interest in motorsport on the national rally circuit.

Jensen, 25, and co-driver Stanton, 27, launch their Heart of England challenge in a new Peugeot 306 Maxi at the Brean Rally Stages over the weekend of January 24-25.

The 240bhp car, prepared and maintained by current motorsport engineering students at the college’s Castle Combe racetrack-based centre, was on display on the Wiltshire College Motorsport stand at last week’s Autosport International show.

Jensen and Stanton, both Bath-based, also joined up with their former tutors at the Birmingham NEC show, and Jensen said: “We had our first year of competition with the college’s MGZR rally car, then a Clio last year.

“We’re quite hopeful for this season and we’re certainly looking for some class wins.”

Mike South, currently studying for a Foundation degree in motorsport engineering, was one of a number of Lackham-based students helping to man the stand over the four-day show.

And he added: “It’s great practical experience to be involved with the rally car and the Formula Ford racing car on an ongoing basis.

“That’s the difference between Wiltshire College and the other universities and colleges offering motorsport engineering courses. A lot are involved in Formula Student, a one-off championship weekend, but with Wiltshire College based at Castle Combe, in the grounds of a racetrack, there’s more real-life, hands-on opportunities.”

A number of former students, now working within the motorsport industry, visited the stand over the four days of the show, while current student Courtney Giles-Buchanan invited Formula 1 star David Coulthard and three-times Le Mans winner Allan McNish to sign autographs at the Wiltshire College display.

David Iles, curriculum manager for motorsport engineering, said: “The show went well for us, there was a lot of interest in and plenty of enquiries about the courses here and we also received a good bit of trade support.

“Valley Batteries gave us a battery for the rally car and we’re also going to be testing one of their lithium batteries in the Formula Ford, and oil company Fuchs have also offered to support us and have agreed to give technical talks to the students.

“A number of motorsport companies within our area made themselves know to us too, and we are in discussions with them about possible work placements for our students.

“The two public days were the busiest for us, and it was also nice for the team to have the likes of David Coulthard and Allan McNish with us briefly. They were signing autographs at the neighbouring VIP area and were more than happy to come over to our stand when invited.”