Melksham lecturer retains motorsport championship title

A motorsport lecturer from Melksham has raced to championship victory for the second consecutive year, with his students playing a hands-on role in his success.

Sam Williams, a lecturer at Wiltshire College and University Centre, secured the Castle Combe Racing Club Hot Hatch Championship title on Saturday 3rd October, successfully defending the crown he won in 2025.

Competing in the College’s Honda Civic EF, Sam finished first in Class D in both races at the final meeting of the season, sealing the championship after moving up a class for 2026.

“It’s amazing to win another championship. I really wasn’t expecting it this year, but I got lucky when other competitors had issues,” said Sam.

“The reliability and consistency of the car is what allowed us to pull it off again.

“It’s also great to see so many students at Castle Combe, whether they’re working on the cars or watching the racing. Seeing how enthusiastic they are about motorsport makes it even more special.”

Behind the scenes, Motorsport Engineering degree students from the College’s Castle Combe centre have been helping to prepare and maintain the race car throughout the season, gaining valuable experience of working in a competitive motorsport environment.

Sam, who is a former Motorsport student himself, said the practical involvement allows students to put their engineering knowledge to the test.

“The students have done all the preparation on the car over the last week, including bleeding the brakes to make sure the fluid is fresh, carrying out compression checks on the engine and completing general spanner checks.

“They do this sort of work during their degree workshop sessions, preparing the cars over the winter. Then, during the racing season, they come along to the events and work on the cars, gaining valuable experience of what happens on a race day.”

The College had two cars competing at the final race meeting, giving students the opportunity to experience the demands of preparing and maintaining race cars under the pressure of a busy race schedule.

The Motorsport Engineering degree at Wiltshire College & University Centre’s Castle Combe centre combines academic study with practical experience, giving students the opportunity to develop their skills in workshops and at live racing events.

The College is holding an open event at Castle Combe University Centre on Saturday 14th November 12pm to 3pm, where visitors can explore the workshop, speak to lecturers and get more details about the higher education courses available in Motorsport.

Visit www.wiltshire.ac.uk for more information.

Photos by Jake Ozzy

 

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