Loughborough College has been officially selected as the East Midlands Centre of Excellence for STEM Racing, the global STEM education programme supported by Formula 1, marking a major milestone in the region’s commitment to cutting-edge STEM education.
The College is also the first organisation to receive the brand-new four-lane STEM Racing track, which made its global debut at the competition’s prestigious World Finals in Singapore last September, positioning Loughborough at the forefront of engineering innovation and student opportunity.
This new partnership with STEM Racing will enable the College’s T Level and Apprenticeship students to gain hands-on engineering, design, and racing experience inspired by real Formula 1 principles. As part of the programme, students will design, manufacture, and race miniature F1-style cars, supported by specialist manufacturing equipment and a dedicated wind tunnel from STEM Racing’s official equipment supplier, Denford, as well as expert guidance from Loughborough College’s engineering team.
Christopher Abel, Curriculum Head of Engineering Apprenticeships Qualifications and Electrical Installation at Loughborough College, said: “This is a brand-new opportunity for our students and for young people across the region, enabling our T Level learners, Level 3 apprentices, and even Business and Marketing students to gain real-world experience - from engineering and aerodynamics to branding and promotion. It gives them a tangible project with a real competitive edge, and we’re incredibly excited to get started.”
As the regional hub, Loughborough College will host the East Midlands STEM Racing competition from 2026/27, with facilities currently being prepared on campus. Local primary and secondary schools will also be able to request support from the College’s engineering team to manufacture their race cars.
Tom Milner, Project Director at STEM Racing, added: “We are delighted that Loughborough College has become the East Midlands Centre of Excellence. It is hugely exciting to hear about their commitment to STEM education and their fantastic plans for the implementation of the programme, particularly their cross-curricular adoption. We are looking forward to seeing their teams compete next year, putting their cars to the ultimate test on our racetrack!”
Students participating in the programme will have the chance to progress to national and international competitions, with recent World Finals taking place alongside F1 Grands Prix in Abu Dhabi and Singapore. The College’s own engineering team also aims to compete at the highest level, with big goals and ambitions in the competitive sphere.