LATEST NEWs FROM MOTRIO
By Ben Shack / Ben.shack@renault.co.uk / 24 March 2025
MOTRIO UK partners with edinburgh college to encourage young people to go racing
Motrio UK are proud to partner with Edinburgh College’s Edina Ecosse Racing, with the aim of encouraging young people to get into racing and car mechanics.
The team will be entering three cars into the Scottish C1 Cup, a spec racing series, launched in 2019, to provide an affordable entry into car racing in Scotland. The season takes place between the 4th of April and 12th of October across 6 events at two different tracks. The three Citroen C1 race cars will be using a host of Motrio parts usually found on your everyday car, only this time they will be pushed to the limit on track.
Leading this project from an Edinburgh college side is Automotive Engineering Curriculum leader, Brian Alexander, who below explains more about the partnership and its importance.
Can you explain what the course teaches and what its objectives are for the students?
The course is designed to give our “Level 4 Introduction to Transport Maintenance” students a more experiential learning opportunity. Our course is unique in Scotland, giving students an insight into the world of racing in terms of car building and design, but also in race day operations – with students providing paddock and pit lane support for the drivers on race weekends. This allows students to experience what working in a motorsport environment is truly like while being able to put into practice some of the skills they have acquired. Whilst doing so, they are gaining an IMI backed qualification that can help them achieve whatever their chosen automotive vocation maybe.
What is the Scottish C1 cup?
Launched in 2019, the Scottish C1 Cup provides budget entry level racing in Scotland. To keep the racing exciting and to budget, the Citroen C1 Cup cars run to very simple but tight regulations. The race cars are formerly C1 road cars adapted to race car safety specifications.
Why is it beneficial for the student to get involved with racing?
The opportunity to build cars, support drivers and work as part of the C1 paddock and pit crew has brought amazing benefits and opportunities to our students. It has enabled them to apply their newly learnt skills in a practical and competitive manner. At the build stage, the students strip the cars down to a bare shell and then refurbish and rebuild them to a standard fit for the racetrack. As the C1s are essentially modified road cars, the experience gained stands our students in great stead for their future careers, whether that be working in motorsport or in an independent service centre.
Is there any involvement or collaboration with other departments in the college?
Yes, our Performing Arts and Photography departments have been using the C1 project to help their students build on their experience and will be on-hand at selected race weekends this year to capture some sports photography on-track.
What support have you received from sponsors?
This year we are honoured to receive assistance from Motrio. As Motrio offers OE quality parts we are confident that, in using Motrio parts on our race cars, we can push our C1s to the limit, add greater performance value on track. These are our key reasons for choosing Motrio alongside quality and value for money.
Can you tell us a bit about the drivers?
This year we will be running a three-car team consisting of Kenny Dock, Henry Gillespie and Marc Nisbet. All three have previous racing experience in the C1 cup. Below is a brief bios of each driver.
Driver Car 6
Kenny Dock
Kenny started in the Scottish C1 Cup back in 2019 initially to raise awareness of mental health in motorsport. Kenny a specialist nurse living in Belfast was very successful in raising awareness and successfully finding funds to train over 40 motorsport marshals on Mental health and wellbeing and another 20 received specialist training in suicide prevention. After 2 years of racing on his own Kenny joined Edina Ecosse Racing in 2023 and has gradually worked his way up the grid and this year is aiming for that elusive podium place.
Driver Car 8
Henry Gillespie
Henry a firefighter from Glasgow has 2 previous years’ experience in the C1 cup, during that time he gained numerous new commers wins and One out right race win. Henry’s passion for motorsport was ignited at a young age by watching his dad compete at both Knockhill and Inglisto.
Driver Car 117
marc nisbet
Marc spent many years supporting his son Kyle in Karting and Juniors Saloon car Racing before he made his debut in the 2023 C1 Championship alongside his son. A keen karter from the age of 16 Marc is often at the sharp end of the C1 grid and will be hoping to add to his 2 wins, 3 poles and multiple podiums this season.
Can we have a quote from one of the students?
“Taking part in the C1 project has really helped me develop my skills and made me want to progress further a career in the Motor trade.”
Reece-IMI level 4 Student
Do you have any targets for the season?
Given the driver talent we have at our disposal this year we are hoping to be consistently competing at the front of the grid for race wins and podiums. If we can achieve that then I would like to think a championship is possible although this will not be easy as the C1 grid is very closely matched.
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