New motorsport deal for students

Motorsport students from a university in Bedfordshire are being given the opportunity to work with employees from British racing track Silverstone.

Postgraduate students studying Motorsport Engineering at Cranfield University will work on motorsport projects as part of their studies.

Known as Virtual Silverstone, the projects available include track design and motorsport marketing.

The one year pilot will run for the 2009 to 2010 academic year.

Professor Kambiz Kayvantash, head of Cranfield's Centre for automotive technology, said: "This unique partnership offers an excellent opportunity for our MSc students to get as close as possible to the real competition environment."

The university said the partnership may be extended if students find it beneficial.