A day in the life of a motorsport engineer

Ever wondered what it’s like to have a front row seat in the thrilling world of motorsports? Imagine the roar of the engines and the smell of exhaust fumes in the air. This is the life of a motorsport engineer—a unique career involving mind-blowing technology and the need for speed. It is a job that runs on adrenaline where every decision you make could be the difference between 1st and 2nd place.

But the hard work doesn’t start and end on the racetrack. It’s the hours put in behind the scenes that make all the difference. Every morning, you dive headfirst into the studio, where the only limit is your imagination. Your job? To plan and execute the highest performance imaginable from your vehicles. But what does a motorsport engineer actually do? We’ll share the day-to-day tasks you’ll encounter while working in motorsports below. Come and study this heart-pumping specialism at the UK’s only National Centre for Motorsport Engineering, benefiting from a £13 million investment into state-of-the-art labs, workshops and equipment.

Design, build and test

The behind-the-scenes part of being a motorsport engineer could see you:

• Designing bold new prototypes and digitally bringing them to life using specialist software
• Running simulations and VR to assess how your designs will perform in intensive real-world scenarios
• Building your successful blueprints from scratch, adhering to quality control and safety checks
• Rigorously testing parts and performance in the lab and on the racetrack
• Analysing performance details to ensure optimal results are met

Preparation and racing

Then, when you’re out on the track, a motorsport engineer will:

• Set up vehicles to handle race conditions; including tyre pressure and aerodynamics
• Adjust their strategies on the fly to match changing weather conditions and make every millisecond count
• Monitor things like real-time engine speed fuel consumption; making split-second decisions to optimise performance
• Keep in direct communication with the driver, relaying critical insights that could make or break the race
• Perform ‘after-tests’ to inspect the vehicle for any signs of wear and tear

A day in the life of a motorsport engineer is a unique blend of planning, decision making and getting your hands dirty. No two days are ever the same. It’s a career that demands passion and the ability to work in an exciting, ever-changing environment.

How to become a motorsport engineer

Ready to turn your passion for racing into a career? The first step is to pursue a degree in motorsport engineering or a related field. Look for courses, like ours, that provide track days and industry placements, as hands-on experience and networking are vital. At the University of Bolton, our courses are designed to give you the experiences you need to take the wheel in this field. You’ll learn skills from guest lecturers with real professional experience in motorsport engineering, have the opportunity to enjoy work placements all across Europe and make industry contacts. And above all? You’ll open doors to diverse, exciting and in-demand careers in motorsport that benefit from long-term job security, great salaries and attractive benefits.

Want to find out more about where a degree in engineering, motorsport and construction can take you? Talk to us at 01204 900 600 or email enquiries@bolton.ac.uk to experience #UniAsItShouldBe and take the first step towards your dream career.