Students on the Automotive Academy New Graduates Programme have unveiled their debut IMechE Formula Student racing car. Reaching speeds of over 90 mph, 'Academy Racing' will drive in the Class 1 (200) Series of the IMechE Formula Student competition at Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome, on 8-10 July 2005.

The vehicle has been designed and manufactured by the 10 students, often in their own spare time. It will be raced alongside 74 other entries from 18 different countries, including teams from Venezuela, India and Australia. The IMechE Formula Student competition promotes careers and excellence in engineering, by challenging students to design, build, develop, market and compete as a team with a small single seater racing car.

This is the first time the Automotive Academy has entered. The students on the Academy New Graduates Programme have spent the last 8 months honing their engineering, communications, team-building and leadership skills as they begin their careers in the motor industry. They recently spent a week learning new skills in team management and leadership at the Sandhurst Military College.

Speaking at the launch, Ryan King from the Academy Racing team, said, 'We have spent months creating the car to our own design, sourcing the materials and generating sponsorship, so we are really looking forward to putting it through its paces in the next few weeks. We want to do the Academy proud at our first ever race meeting in July.'

The Academy's New Graduate Programme manager, Bob Lyall, said, 'The graduates have all learnt so much during the last eight months and we wish them well in the competition. The car looks great and I know that the new skills they have learnt through the course will help them as they make their way through the motor industry in the years to come.'