We’re proud to be supporting up and coming racing driver Will Redford, a Level 2 IMI Diploma in Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair student at Reaseheath.
Will is on track to become a professional racing driver and is about to start his first full season in professional racing representing Leyland based team Kinetic Motorsport. He is chasing the Milltek Sport Civic Cup – an exciting club level senior championship which takes place over seven race weekends.
His first races of the season are on May 1 / 2 at Cadwell Park, Lincolnshire. Good luck Will!
This is Will’s story so far:
“Hi, I’m Will Redford. I’m 17 and from Warrington. My dream is to be a professional racing driver.
“I’ve been studying motor vehicle mechanics at Reaseheath for the past two years. I’m right at the start of my career in real world motorsport and I’m very grateful that Reaseheath is supporting me.
“Unlike most drivers I have taken an unusual path to get to this point. Most successful drivers start by karting from a very young age and stay in them until early teens before moving into cars.
“This wasn’t an option for me because my family simply didn’t have the budget available. Instead I’ve been racing online in sims (virtual racing simulators) and I’ve also used other games to hone my skills. This has allowed me to develop my craft in cars without the high costs…… and I’ve realised that I’m actually pretty good at it!
“It paid off last year when I entered a scholarship competition to win a fully funded season of racing in the 2021 Junior Saloon Car Championship. I made the final selection and although I narrowly missed out on winning the scholarship I was noticed by Westbourne Motorsports and was offered a semi funded drive with coaching, test days and five race weekends.
“In that brief half season I achieved five podium finishes, fastest laps, a ‘driver of the meeting’ award at Pembrey and overall 10th in the championship out of 37 despite missing eight races – so I was very pleased with that.
“I’m now getting ready to compete in my first full season in seniors in the Civic Cup and I’m lucky to have the opportunity to partner with several businesses. But motor racing is notoriously expensive so I’m always on the lookout for more sponsors.
“With help from my current sponsors we have managed to purchase my car for this year’s championship, a Civic Cup spec EP3 Type R built by Kinetic Motorsport. It’s a pretty big step up from last year’s Saxo with over twice the horsepower and much higher straight line and cornering speed. It’s got much more setup adjustment with adjustable front and rear anti roll bars and dampers as well as camber, caster and toe adjustment which all effect how the car drives. The engine itself is a stock Type R K20 pushing a maximum of 230 Horsepower and per championship rules the cars weigh 1200KG. The car’s true top speed is over 140mph but I’ll only be hitting a maximum of 120/130mph on track.
“I’ve had a few test days in the car so far and my pace is looking really strong, breaking previous pole times and setting race stints that would have me both starting and finishing at the front in last year’s championship. I’m hoping to be running at the front and I know that’s going to be tricky but I’m looking forward to the challenge.
“I got to know Reaseheath well in the two years I attended as a Year 10/11 pupil and I’ve really enjoyed my time as a full time student.
“The facilities are great. There’s a wide range of modern vehicles and the tools and equipment are state of the art. The lecturers are friendly and helpful and it feels weird calling them teachers as they’re basically one of your mates!
“I want to continue developing my skills as a mechanic, as not only does it set me up in the future with a qualification, but also helps me with my racing. It’s one thing knowing how to drive fast but it’s also hugely important to understand how the car works.
“I’m excited to see what the future brings and I’m hugely grateful to the college and to my lecturers for their support!”
Keep up with Will’s journey by following this blog and our social media accounts, and meet him and his car in person at our Family Festival on Sunday May 15.
