CWA team, based at Isle Campus, Wisbech, hoping for a successful Formula Ford season

A group of students have been put through their paces on the race track as they brace themselves for a season of motorsport.

The College of West Anglia team has been out at the Snetterton circuit ahead of a season racing in a Formula Ford class.

Motorsport as a course began in 2007 at the college's Isle Campus in Wisebch, where students are given the chance to gain first-hand experience of their subject.

The college team is in the BRSCC Avon Tyres Formula Ford national championship and last year raced at venues including Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Donington Park.

'We were well off the pace and our driver Jay Wheals was getting very frustrated with our car not being a match for the competition. We developed the car all through the year,' said course director Chris Middleton.

The team shed weight from the car and tried different settings to become competitive. In the last race of the season the team took second in class and seventh overall.

The team is partly funded by the college and the rest of the cash comes from sponsorship.

'The other members of staff and I are really passionate about two things; racing and getting the students the real experience to back up their qualifications. We give up our own time to ensure the team can keep running and seeing the students develop throughout the season is very rewarding,' said Mr Middleton.

'Our students have the opportunity to gain real race experience before they get into industry as paid employees, this has come about purely because we run as a team and don't just provide a educational environment. This has been very challenging for the staff involved, but if you are trying to get these young people into real jobs it is the only way that is going help,' he added.