The next generation of engineering and motorsport talent will take to Silverstone racetrack next month as a team of Southern Regional College (SRC) engineering students prepare to compete within the Concept Class of the Formula Student finals from 15-19 July 2026.
SRC students Guilherme Passos (Newry), Lewis Deards (Ballygowan), Ross Graham (Banridge), Fearghal Murphy (Newry), Richard Livingstone (Armagh), Aleyah Peniero (Banbridge), Rebecca Dickson (Banbridge) and Sean Treanor (Monaghan) have successfully qualified for the prestigious competition becoming the first team from the Further Education sector to participate in Formula Student.
Organised by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), Formula Student is widely recognised as the world's leading educational engineering competition. It challenges students to design, build, test and race a single-seat racing car while demonstrating expertise in engineering, project management, finance and business planning.
Teams entering the competition for the first time will usually compete within the Concept Class, being judged on design, materials, manufacturing process, cost rationale and must satisfy judges on the viability of the car. Success at this stage is vital to securing a spot on the starting line at the 2027 event.
More than 100 teams from over 30 countries are expected to compete at Silverstone, with many participants viewing the competition as a launchpad into careers in motorsport, advanced manufacturing and high-performance engineering.
The SRC team began work on their project in September 2025 and have spent months designing, building and refining vehicle plans while balancing studies for their Engineering BEng Degree (Top-Up) or Engineering (Mechatronics) Level 5 Foundation Degree, alongside employment and personal commitments. Throughout the process, students have successfully met a series of rigorous technical and administrative milestones required to qualify for the finals, often working late into the evening on tasks.
The achievement is particularly significant given that none of the students enrolled at SRC expecting to join a Formula Student team. Instead, the opportunity was created during their time at the College, demonstrating that students can access the same high-level engineering experiences and competitive opportunities traditionally associated with university programmes through hard work, commitment and ambition. The College has established a strong track record of supporting engineering students to compete at national and international level, providing clear progression pathways for those willing to commit, excel and push beyond expectations.
Each student has played a key role in the development of the vehicle, with support provided by many external sponsors, including Exact Group, SMD Methods, TRED, RM Autoparts, Brownlow Radiators, EM & SM Construction Ltd, Blackwater Graphics, RJ Smyth Engineering, Flurry Fabrication, CCL Group, Regen Robotics along with several sponsors who wish to remain unnamed. Each sponsor has played a key role in bringing the team to the paddock, from providing car parts, to covering insurance and entry fees.
The project has been supported by Engineering Lecturer and Course Coordinator Seán MacDiarmada, who has guided and encouraged students throughout the design and development process.
Speaking on the team’s commitment, Seán MacDiarmada said:
“SRC Racing, a team of eight engineering students drawn from the Level 5 Foundation Degree and Level 6 Bachelor of Engineering Higher Level Apprenticeship programmes have set an historic milestone by qualifying for and developing an entry for the UK finals of the Formula Student Concept Class competition.
In doing so, the team from Southern Regional College have firmly reserved a place to showcase their engineering talent and prowess alongside a lineup of major universities such as Imperial College and Oxford-Brooks, institutes known for their engineering and motorsport heritage and who have traditionally dominated this, the largest engineering degree programme competition in the world.”
Mrs Lee Campbell, Principal & Chief Executive of Southern Regional College commented:
“Qualifying for one of the world's most prestigious engineering competitions is a remarkable achievement and reflects the talent, determination and professionalism of our students.
As the first team from the Further Education sector to compete in Formula Student, they are breaking new ground and demonstrating that innovation and engineering excellence can thrive at every level of education. Their success demonstrates the strength of the engineering programmes at Southern Regional College and the dedication of our staff in preparing students for high-value careers in advanced manufacturing, motorsport and emerging technologies.
We wish the team every success at Silverstone and look forward to seeing them represent both the College and Northern Ireland on an international stage."