IN THE FAST LANE: Ben Norton in action in the car that Wiltshire College ran in the Formula Ford Championship

Castle Combe is involved in technology which can proudly be claimed as world beating.

A building, tucked away behind Camp corner, is the home of the Wiltshire College and its second-year students looking to obtain their National Diploma in Motor Sport Engineering.

The 6,500 square feet centre, which cost around £500,000, includes two classrooms, six workshops, an engine/machine workshop and a well-equipped student area.

In the short space of time it has been in use, a number of links have been formed between the college and drivers.

Under the guidance of principal Haydn Earl, the college is about to undertake its most ambitious project.

Using a chassis from the stable of another innovative Wiltshire business, Loaded Gunn Racing from Braydon, near Swindon, the college is building the first diesel engine racing car of its kind.

The college has enlisted the driving services of Bradford on Avon's Ed Moore, a double and reigning champion of the circuit's Formula Ford series.

He will race the car in the circuit's savesometax.co.uk Castle Combe Special GT Championship. Aside from big budget factory efforts at Le Mans, this is likely to be the only diesel in competition in the world. Just to add to the interest, the college is growing and producing its own biofuel for the car - another world first.

The college will be running cars for a number of other local drivers in the circuit's Melton Concrete Products Formula Ford 1600 championship.

One is Adam Higgins from Chippenham. Having made his debut at Castle Combe last year, the 21-year-old son of former multiple champion, Bob, stunned everyone by almost winning his class. This year he is hoping the Wiltshire college and his new Van Diemen RF01 can propel him to the front.

Keeping the college lads even busier is Ben Norton from Bratton who returns for a second year with his Australian-built Spectrum 011 as another class A Formula Ford protagonist run by the students. The team spent the early part of last year learning the complexities of the new car, eventually finishing the championship third in class A and fifth overall, setting one fastest lap in the process.

The college's steep learning curve with the new car should benefit Bath's Steven Jensen who has also acquired one of the cars and will be run by the students. Last year, Jensen won the class B title and was second overall to Moore, so the competition between him and Norton will be interesting.

2:56pm Thursday 28th February 2008

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