Student engineers take to a purpose-built track at Aerospace Bristol as ITV News films the series in action
Bristol, UK – 12 February 2026 — The S-RC Cup officially launched its 2026 season on Thursday with a high-intensity pre-season test event hosted beneath the iconic Concorde at Aerospace Bristol.
Three school teams attended the event, fielding multiple test chassis and placing up to six cars on track simultaneously as they prepared for the upcoming championship season. The day was filmed for a two-minute feature on ITV News, marking the first broadcast coverage of the growing UK student RC motorsport series.
The event followed a structured race weekend format, including free practice, single-session qualifying, and a competitive race simulation. Students experienced the full engineering rhythm of motorsport — analysing performance between sessions, adjusting setups, refining racing lines and studying track maps before returning to the circuit.
Engineers were seen making detailed setup notes between runs, modifying suspension geometry and balance to improve grip. Drivers worked methodically on consistency and race craft. Team managers coordinated strategy in the pit area. The standard of engagement throughout the day reflected the series’ ambition to operate as a true motorsport championship — scaled for schools.
A Track Built From the Ground Up
With last-minute issues relating to pro-grade track delivery, S-RC Cup engineers designed and built a fully modular never-seen-before track system, which was prototyped publicly for the first time at the pre-season test.
While the new surface offers less inherent grip than traditional racing carpet, it introduced a deliberate engineering variable — requiring teams to optimise mechanical setup rather than relying on track traction alone.
Drivers described the circuit as technical and rewarding, with several teams making measurable gains between sessions through setup refinement alone.
Feedback and data from the prototype system are now being analysed ahead of the first official championship round on 24 April at Sheffield Hallam University, where an evolved version of the track will be deployed.
Race-Day Drama Beneath Concorde
The event featured a full race simulation, beginning with a single-session qualifying format where drivers had a defined window to set their fastest lap. With multiple cars on track, teams had to judge traffic, timing and track evolution — pushing at the right moment while avoiding costly mistakes.
Grid positions were decided by narrow margins, with several improvements coming in the closing minutes as drivers found rhythm on the newly developed surface.
The race that followed demanded consistency as much as outright speed. Drivers managed pressure from behind, navigated traffic, and adapted to changing grip levels, while engineers observed performance and prepared setup refinements for future rounds.
For many students, it was their first experience of competitive motorsport intensity — where preparation, execution and teamwork directly influenced results.
Delivering STEM+
Beyond lap times, the event demonstrated what S-RC Cup calls “STEM+” — an expanded competition model combining engineering, economics, branding, strategy and media.
Throughout the day, teams produced social content, documented car development, and discussed how performance would impact sponsor relationships. Students were not only racing — they were operating as complete motorsport organisations.
The impact was equally visible at student level.
Together, these elements reinforce the competition’s ambition to provide a practical, industry-informed pathway into engineering and motorsport careers.
Building Momentum
Following a successful prototype test event beneath Concorde — and national television coverage — organisers believe the 2026 season is building strong momentum ahead of its opening competitive round.
The S-RC Cup United Kingdom RC Motorsport Championship Series aims to create a scalable national platform for student motorsport competition, combining engineering depth with real-world team operations.
About the S-RC Cup
The S-RC Cup is a UK-based RC motorsport championship challenging school students to design, build, engineer and race high-performance RC cars in a structured competitive format. The series integrates technical development, teamwork, strategy, media and branding to create a modern STEM+ motorsport platform.
Founded in 2025, S-RC Cup seeks to provide a long-term pathway into engineering and motorsport industries for young people across the UK.
The series is currently seeking an exclusive group of Sponsors and Partners to support the development and growth in the UK, and preparations for growth worldwide.
Media Enquiries
Pete Hewage
Founder, S-RC Cup
petehewage@srccup.co.uk
