Top Gear expertise is helping boost the Loughborough College team behind a major racing challenge.
As the College prepares to compete against the clock at its first ever Mountsorrel Revival Soapbox Race, the vehicle builders are drawing on a pedigree featuring a championship title and a head to head with the global hit show’s most famous host.
Loughborough College Motor Vehicle students Wilson Barker and Matthew Cripps have been named as, respectively, driver and mechanic while classmate Daniel Turner steps into the key role of pusher.
Meanwhile, after using every spare moment between teaching on the Motor Vehicle Course to build it, Gary Cook and Darren Wallis are now putting the finishing touches to the racer.
Loughborough College is hoping the duo’s background will provide a vital edge – Darren used to run his own garage while Gary has a BTRDA Rally Cross Championship title and has raced against Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear.
As team manager, it’s the job of Motor Vehicle’s Annette Platts to get the most from the five-strong line up.
“Rod at Concept Signs in Hathern has been kind enough to provide our vehicle’s stickers – every detail is important,” said Engineering Technician Keith Large.
“The focus has been on achieving speed – there are winners in three categories, for best construction and spirit of the event and for fastest time, which is where we’re hoping to excel.
“There have been plenty of test runs and on the day Daniel will walk the circuit, making sure he knows the racing lines. It will also be up to him as pusher to put as much power behind the start as he can.
“We’ve done well in other gravity racing competitions and we are all very excited to enter our first ever Mountsorrel Race. It’s got a great carnival atmosphere and it will be great to join all the other racers parading ahead of the event.”
The Soapbox Race takes place as part of Mountsorrel Revival on Sunday 13 August 2017
Pictured: The Loughborough College team with their racer (left to right) Matthew Cripps, Keith Large, Wilson Barker, Annette Platts, Gary Cook and Darren Wallis