A Motorsport lecturer at Wiltshire College & University Centre has raced to championship victory for the second consecutive year, with students playing a hands-on role in his success.
Sam Williams, from Melksham, secured the Castle Combe Racing Club Hot Hatch Championship title on Saturday 3 October, successfully defending the crown he won in 2025. Competing in the college’s Honda Civic EF, Sam finished first in Class D in both races at the final meeting of the season, sealing the championship after moving up a class for 2026.
“It’s amazing to win another championship. I really wasn’t expecting it this year, but I got lucky when other competitors had issues,” said Sam. “The reliability and consistency of the car is what allowed us to pull it off again.
“It’s also great to see so many students at Castle Combe, whether they’re working on the cars or watching the racing. Seeing how enthusiastic they are about motorsport makes it even more special.”
Behind the scenes, Motorsport Engineering degree students from the college’s Castle Combe centre have been helping to prepare and maintain the race car throughout the season, gaining valuable experience of working in a competitive motorsport environment.
Sam, who is a Motorsport lecturer at the college and a former student himself, said the practical involvement allows students to put their engineering knowledge to the test.
“The students have done all the preparation on the car over the last week, including bleeding the brakes, carrying out compression checks on the engine and completing general spanner checks. During the racing season, they come along to the events and work on the cars, gaining valuable experience of what happens on a race day.”
The college had two cars competing at the final race meeting, giving students the opportunity to experience the demands of preparing and maintaining race cars under pressure.
Among those involved was 21-year-old James Cox, from Bristol, who is in the final year of his three-year BEng (Hons) Motorsport Engineering degree at Castle Combe.
James said, “Doing the race days has definitely been a highlight, along with the workshop sessions and learning new skills working on the cars.
“On a race day, we get here at about 6am, unload the trucks, set everything up and get the cars ready. We then have qualifying and two races, so we’re constantly checking things like fuel, tyre pressures and making sure everything is secure and the drivers are happy with the cars.”
James hopes to build a career in the classic car industry, specialising in historic racing and the restoration of classic race cars.
“I’ve really enjoyed the course and learnt so much. Hopefully, I’ll be able to take everything I’ve learnt into a career in motorsport, particularly working with classic racing cars,” he added.
The Motorsport Engineering degree at Wiltshire College & University Centre’s Castle Combe centre combines academic study with practical experience in workshops and at live racing events.
The College is holding an open event at Castle Combe University Centre on Saturday 14 November, from 12pm–3pm, where prospective students and their families can explore the workshop, speak to lecturers and find out more about the higher education courses available in Motorsport.
Visit www.wiltshire.ac.uk for more information.
