Behind the Scenes: Students Dive into Motorsport Innovation at McLaren

Tyler’s remarkable career, marked by his contributions to McLaren’s triumphs in the Can-Am Championship and groundbreaking innovations like the semi-automatic gearbox, inspired the creation of this scholarship. Designed to support budding engineers in the motorsport industry, the scholarship offers a bursary towards the tuition fees a Motorsport master’s degree at Cranfield University, followed by two 3-month internships at McLaren Racing and Penske Racing. These internships provide invaluable hands-on experience and mentorship in the dynamic world of motorsport, emphasising values such as teamwork, excellence, and diversity. 

During the visit to McLaren, students seized the opportunity to engage with various heads of centres, gaining insights into their roles and experiences within the industry. A comprehensive tour of the facilities showcased McLaren’s rich heritage, spanning from its inception to its cutting-edge race car technology seen today on the racetrack. 

A highlight of the visit was a special session with team principle, Andrea Stella, who shared his personal journey into motorsport and offered invaluable advice on leadership and career development. Students were privileged to learn about McLaren’s recent victory in Miami and the team’s celebratory spirit firsthand. Particularly striking was McLaren’s tradition of attributing all race trophies to the collective efforts of the team, underscoring the importance of teamwork and unity in achieving success. 

The visit to McLaren if just one example of the practical and hands on approach Cranfield has to learning, as well as the strong ongoing partnerships with the leaders within industry. If you are interested in a future career within motorsport, a Cranfield University MSc can put you on the right track to achieve your goals.