COLLEGE students are looking forward to a career in the fast lane as the merger between the town's further education college and university drives forward.

Bolton College students visited the state-of-the-art £13 million National Centre for Motorsport Engineering (NCME) where they will continue their studies after receiving conditional offers from the University of Bolton.

The two establishments are currently undergoing a merger and say they are working together to ensure that 'learners are able to enjoy the benefits of the state-of-the-art £13 million NCME facility' with 'clear progression pathways from the college's popular Motor Vehicle programmes to the university's Motorsport and Engineering programmes'.

College students will also have a chance to study at the NCME, and take advantage of its pioneering facilities and receive masterclasses from its motorsport experts.

Students who will go on to study at the centre, just a stone's throw away from the university, had a tour and took part in some exercises as well as learning about the history of motorsport.

John Hawkins, a full-time Level 3 student said: "The place is amazing and I loved the cars in the showroom, especially the Lamborghini. I can't wait to start classes here this term and then when I finish college, I'm hoping I get the grades to come and study here as an undergraduate."

Students who have received offers also include apprenticeships.

Besides the £400,000 Lamborghini, the centre is also home to an impressive collection of racing cars – a F1 car, Nissan British Touring Car and a G40 Ginetta GT car.

The NCME is designed to be the UK’s leading academic centre for motorsport engineering to create “outstanding engineers who will shape the future of automotive development in the UK and internationally”.

Students will learn about motorsport and automotive performance engineering industry in the classroom, in the workshop, in the laboratory and on the racetrack. The university says it will offer students ‘extraordinary opportunities to become technically superb engineering professionals’.

Students will have regular sessions at a local race circuit which will act as a ‘living laboratory’ enabling them to design and engineer high performance vehicles.

Bill Webster, Principal of Bolton College said: “Our STEM Centre is based right next to the new development so over the past year, we’ve seen the building taking shape. Having looked around, it’s as impressive on the inside as it is on the outside. Our learners are really going to enjoy the benefits of the National Centre of Motorsport Engineering. It's a place that will bring out the very best in them".

Dr Mark Busfield, director of the National Centre of Motorsport Engineering, added: "These learners are our future students so today was a wonderful opportunity to introduce them to the centre. We will continue to work closely with Bolton College and provide fantastic opportunities for all learners."