Learners go under the hood at Oulton Park thanks to new NAPA partnership
The automotive parts company has launched a collaboration with Coleg Menai, providing parts and technical know-how to help motorsport students build a Targa rally car
Motorsport engineering students went behind the scenes at Oulton Park racing circuit thanks to Coleg Menai’s new partnership with NAPA UK.
Learners were given a tour of the paddock and team garages, took part in a Q&A with drivers and mechanics, and watched potential Formula 1 stars of the future in the British Formula 4 Championship.
They also watched the British Touring Car Championship and Porsche Sprint Challenge, and enjoyed exclusive access to the VIP hospitality suite.
Students and staff were invited by NAPA as part of a new collaboration between the automotive parts brand and the Level 3 Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Motorsports) course at Coleg Menai’s Llangefni campus.
NAPA has donated a range of high-quality components through its local store in Llangefni, including braking, suspension and chassis parts through to engine and workshop consumables, which the students are using to build a Targa rally car. Targa is a discipline of rallying which allows slight modifications to a road-going car.
The learners are also receiving hands-on training and access to technical resources through NAPA’s partner, TechMate, helping them gain skills relevant to today’s automotive industry.
They will get to see a range of motorsport disciplines up close as part of the partnership, with the visit to Oulton Park the first of these experiences.
The collaboration was sparked when Daron Evans, Motorsport programme lead at Coleg Menai, invited some of the NAPA UK team to the Llangefni campus, where they were impressed with the course.
Daron said: “The NAPA partnership is supporting our learners here at Coleg Menai in many ways.
“They are providing OE (original equipment) quality parts for our TARGA rally car, have allowed our learners to support them with their own marketing campaigns, and more recently gave our students the opportunity to visit Oulton Park as guests of NAPA Racing.
“They were given time to look at the British Touring cars up close and discuss the technical specifications, spent time with the NAPA Racing team who gave us a tour of their pit facilities, and saw how they as a team manage the logistical challenge of moving staff, cars and equipment.
“Finally we had time for a question-and-answer session with their four current drivers, including the championship leader.
“Activities such as those provided by NAPA and NAPA Racing enrich the learning experience for our learners and also give them insight into possible career paths for the future. We are very grateful for these opportunities and the current partnership.”
Adam McNaney, marketing manager at NAPA, said: “We are proud to support Coleg Menai in nurturing future talent through quality resources and training.
“This partnership aligns with our commitment to excellence and investing in the development of skilled professionals who will drive the automotive sector forward.”
NAPA UK forms part of a worldwide parts supplier NAPA Autoparts, which is headquartered in the USA.
Do you want to work in the motorsport industry? Coleg Menai’s Level 3 Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Motorsports) course provides you with the skills, training and technical knowledge for a career, apprenticeship or university degree in the sector. Learn more here.