Racing Start For QUB Graduates

Queen's graduates have stepped up a gear - by joining Formula 1 giants McLaren.

The two fast-track Queen's University graduates have secured the high-tech places against Europe-wide competition.

Bernie Collins, of Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh, has won a place on the F1 team's graduate programme while Edward Thompson, of Hillsborough, Co Down, is about to start work with McLaren Automotive, the racing company's design and construction wing.

The former students recently graduated with First Class Masters' degrees in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, and are now looking forward to beginning work at McLaren's base at Woking in Surrey.

Bernie said involvement in the recent international Formula Student competition at Silverstone, in which a QUB team finished third in its class after competing against 2,000 students from 105 universities, helped her to secure the appointment.

The first female QUB graduate to work for a Formula 1 team said: "It is the biggest competition of its kind in Europe and challenges students to design, build, market and compete as a team with a small single-seater racing car.

"Teams are judged on the car's speed, safety, reliability, cost and handling qualities.

"I was delighted to lead the QUB team and gained hands-on experience that was invaluable in securing a place on McLaren’s Formula 1 graduate scheme," she added.

Edward said he had won his 'dream job': "Formula Student and my studies at Queen's have given me an invaluable insight into all aspects of automotive engineering - from design and manufacturing to marketing and team-building."

(BMcC/GK)