how to get into motorsport
How to get into Motorsport
by Alex Burns, Chief Operating Officer
There are currently in excess of 40,000 people working in Motorsport throughout the world. Motorsport consists of various sporting events and activities undertaken by various vehicles. It employs people in hundreds of different jobs throughout the world and is a business worth millions of pounds in technology, investment and sponsorship. The jobs within motorsport are varied including technical roles, design jobs, mechanical roles and support roles including Finance, IT, Marketing, HR and Management. For the purpose of this summary I will be focusing on engineering roles within F1 specifically, however some of the advice applies across other areas of the Motorsport industry.
At Williams’ formation in 1977 there were 24 staff, in 2007 we now employ just under 500 staff, and therefore the growth in human resources within our team has been significant over the last 30 years. This growth has been reflected in technological and dynamical growth within the Motorsport industry, and particularly in our case the F1 industry. The bottom line is we employee these 500 people, who are some of the best professionals in the industry, to produce two race cars on the track for each Grand Prix of the Season. This is why the members of our team denote themselves as Racing Purists. To achieve our goal of winning the Constructors Championship, requires determination, commitment, loyalty and trust from every one of our employees. These are the more generic personal skills we demand from all of our staff. On the negative side, this can involve personal sacrifices including time away from your family and friends, either working long hours or travelling. On the positive side, all of our staff have achieved what has been their career ambition; working for one of the top five Motorsport teams, with F1 being considered the pinnacle of the Motorsport industry.
For engineering based roles within F1, there are two traditional routes which you can choose to take. The base line for each of these routes is good grades at GCSE. This includes in particular maths and sciences, as well as design and technology or mechanics if you have such options. This solid foundation will provide the opportunity to go on to study an Apprenticeship, alongside a HNC, or HND qualification, or alternatively A Levels. It will also help you to determine how successful you might be at completing these key subjects at a higher level of education.
Apprenticeship Route - For those more practically minded
For those that are more practically minded an Apprenticeship is a possible route as an alternative to A Levels and Degrees. Such opportunities are limited throughout the Motorsport industry, as well as throughout the engineering industry in general. Apprenticeships in the broader engineering industry are also limited, but this is a broader route you could consider before moving to the Motorsport industry. The better grades you have, the more opportunities will open up to you. In addition to good grades at school, such initiatives as F1 in Schools and Formula schools, relevant work experience, part time jobs or related hobbies such as mechanics or karting will also help your chances of securing such limited opportunities. The more you can demonstrate your determination and passion to be involved in Motorsport through the contents of your CV, the more possibility you will have of securing an Apprenticeship with an employer who can help you achieve your goal. At Williams we currently have 5 Apprentices on 3/4 year courses, this is 1% of our total workforce. We receive in excess of 100 CV’s or letters each year about Apprenticeships, and we are only able to commit to these 5 places, every 3/4 years, or 300/400 CV’s and letters. This demonstrates how distinctive your application or letter needs to be to stand out.
University Route - For those more theoretically minded
My initial advice for this route would be simply to achieve the best GCSE and A Level results you possibly can. This will determine your broad choices of Universities and courses which you are able to apply for. Reflect the subjects studied at GCSE including maths and sciences. Or seek advice at an early stage from the university you are intending to apply to. Find out the minimum level of A Level grade you are expected to achieve and in what subjects. To ensure success as well as your objectives, you can already see the requirement to plan your education at an early stage.
Whilst studying for your A Levels use the opportunity to get some work experience through volunteering at local motorsport events, or getting involved in broader engineering initiatives, if your school or college offers them. Part time work on your CV at this early stage is also a good way of demonstrating your employability at an early age, even if it is just during your holiday periods.
Many teams have their preferences and contacts with Universities. Our preference is for a strong Mechanical Engineering or Aerodynamics degree. Our staff have studied at Oxford Brookes, Southampton, Coventry, Bath, Imperial, Cranfield to name a few, but this is not an exhaustive list. It also does not undermine other courses at other Universities and does not mean you will not be considered for jobs if you did not attend the favoured universities. My advice would be to thoroughly research the subjects studied as part of the Degree course you intend to apply for. At this point I would refer you to Sam Michael’s earlier article which specifically discusses those subjects in detail, with specific information about jobs linked to those subjects.
At this stage get involved in volunteering at local motorsport events, Formula Student or Engineering initiatives through your University. In addition, part time jobs relevant to the subjects or environments you wish to work in demonstrate your practical application of the skills you are learning at University. Even if not directly related to Motorsport, the transferable skills can be imperative in making you an attractive candidate for a job vacancy. The same advice would apply to placement opportunities and work experience. To demonstrate the competition for these places at Williams, we offer 10 one year placements, and 10 work experience opportunities each year. We receive in excess of 200 CV’s each year for these places from around the world. We look for excellent A Level grades, employability, hobbies and interests, and suitable personal skills, commitment and passion for the industry, in selecting appropriate candidates.
Graduates Seeking Relevant Experience and Positions in F1
There are limited opportunities for graduates in F1. Typically Teams look for students who have achieved a minimum 2:1 classification in a relevant degree. Vacancies occasionally become available for graduates in our Test Facilities or Aerodynamic Departments. Graduate vacancies we have appointed to in the last 12 months include Wind Tunnel Technician, Junior Model Designer, Junior Aerodynamicist and Junior CFD Aerodynamicist. The successful applicants were all able to demonstrate practical experience through previous work experience, placements or hobbies. This demonstrates the value of a placement opportunity. It can give you up to a years experience at an early stage of your learning which remains on your CV for the rest of your life.
Alternatives to a direct graduate entry into F1 could be to initially seek employment in other areas of the Motorsport industry, including other Motorsport series, rally car teams, A1, as well as suppliers of F1 teams. Other credible options include securing opportunities in the broader engineering or aerospace industries, which offer more graduate opportunities than F1, and have the support and spare resources built into their workforce to train fresh graduates. The experience gained within such industries can also prove highly valuable in an F1 environment.
As a Motorsport Team which deals solely with F1, each year we receive in excess of 8,000 CV’s. These are a mixture of job applications, speculative CV’s, and placement and work experience applications. This demonstrates the competition for any vacancy that we advertise, and the importance of demonstrating you are the best in the industry, at what you do.
My Top Five Tips
- Plan your education as early as possible and study hard to achieve your academic goals.
- Get involved in networking through volunteering at Motorsport Events and Formula School or Student initiatives.
- Get as much practical experience as possible, utilise all the resources at school, college or University to demonstrate your practical skills and build up your CV.
- Competition is high, differentiate yourself from your other colleagues and students.
- Enjoy the whole experience. The road can be a long one, but when you achieve your ultimate goal it will be worth all the blood, sweat and tears. It is important you come to us with the same passion as you had when you watched that first ever Grand Prix, or Motorsport event!
Other Useful References
Motorsport Industry Association
Please be advised all Williams F1 placement vacancies have been successfully filled for 2008 intake.