A RACE team supported by the University of Bolton has won a top event at Silverstone.

Three-time MSA British Rally champion Mark Higgins clinched victory in the Toyo Tires MSA British Rallycross Championship.

Students from the university’s National Centre for Motorsport Engineering (NCME) were part of the Albatec Racing team who had built and fine-tuned the car and were also part of the team in the thrilling final last week.

Mark Busfield, director of the university’s National Academy of Motorsport Engineering, who also acted as the team manager at all the races, said the victory was “incredible”.

He said: “I never thought we would be able to achieve this in our first year. It is amazing. Other competitors didn’t know what to expect from us at the first meeting this year as it is the first time a university has had such an involvement in assisting to run a car in this national championship,

“But a combination of meticulous preparation by Albatec and our students, an excellent driver in Mark Higgins and consistency has led us to win the British Rallycross Championship in our first year.

“It means that students can say not only that they have been working in a team in Rallycross, but they have won the British Championship in 2018. What a thing to be able to put on your CV!”

NCME’s partnership with Albatec – launched a year ago – gives students the unique opportunity to engage as part of a professional race team at the track.

They are also able to understand the careers available in motorsport engineering, as well as gain an insight into how cars are designed, developed, manufactured and tested.

Higgins said: “To win the Championship, I’m over the moon.”

“Massive thanks to Albatec Racing, the University of Bolton and Eddie Stobart for supporting me again.”

the 2018 Toyo Tires MSA British Rallycross Championship