Students at Hadlow College, part of North Kent College, are set to benefit from an exciting new addition to their practical learning resources - a high-performance Caterham Blackbird car.
The specialist vehicle will provide students from Motorsport Levels 1, 2 and 3, along with Motorcycle learners, the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with a professional, lightweight racing vehicle.
The Caterham will be used as a track day car, giving students a unique insight into real motorsport experiences. producing 175 BHP and weighing significantly less than a typical family car, offers exceptional power-to-weight performance. A driver will set a lap time, then feedback on the vehicle’s behaviour. Students will then work together to analyse the data and make adjustments to improve the car’s performance, mirroring the work of a professional racing team.
In addition to track-based learning, the car will be used as part of the course’s set-up and inspections units in higher-level courses.
“We’re thrilled to provide a resource that reflects real motorsport practice. This will inspire our students and give them the kind of professional experience that sets them up for their future careers,” said Kevin Pilcher, Head of Curriculm in the college’s Automotive Department.
Hadlow College looks forward to seeing current and future learners gain valuable industry experience, helping them accelerate into successful careers across the world of motorsport.