Motorsport engineer

You'll usually need to complete a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree. Relevant engineering courses include:

• motorsport
• automotive
• electronic
• mechanical

It's useful to look for courses that include work placements with manufacturers and suppliers.

There are schemes like Formula Student and Greenpower that are aimed at people who want to get into motorsport engineering.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• student finance for fees and living costs
• university courses and entry requirements

You could train through a degree apprenticeship as a manufacturing engineer.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

Volunteering at motorsport event is a good way to make contacts in the industry and to get yourself known. Volunteers in Motorsport and British Motorsports Marshals Club have lots of ways you can get involved.

Career tips

Attending motorsport shows is a good way to meet employers, ask questions and to find out exactly which skills and experience they're looking for.

Further information

You can get more advice about careers in motorsport from the Motorsport Industry Association and Your Future in Automotive.

You'll need:

• the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to use your initiative
• analytical thinking skills
• customer service skills
• persistence and determination
• the ability to work well with others
• problem-solving skills
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

As a motorsport engineer working in design, testing or production, your day-to-day duties may include:

• assessing new ideas by looking at performance, strength, costs and safety
• designing prototypes with computer-aided design (CAD) software
• testing components and bodywork 
• testing working models on the track 
• building production models and carrying out quality control checks
• 'finishing' vehicles with the team's colours and sponsorship logos

As a motorsport engineer working in racing, your day-to-day duties may include:

• setting up vehicles to suit track and weather conditions
• monitoring engine speed and other data during races
• fine tuning the vehicle and sending technical instructions to the driver or rider
• carrying out ‘after-tests’ on vehicles after a race to look for signs of damage

You could work at a car manufacturing plant, at a garage or in a laboratory.

You may need to wear protective clothing.