Three Master's students have been awarded fully-funded scholarships at Oxford Brookes University by Sir Lewis Hamilton. 

Steven Naaba from Plymouth, Wesley Massumbukolt, from Milton Keynes, and Gerren Ntiri, from east London, all started their MSc in Motorsport Engineering at Oxford Brookes this academic year, thanks to a charitable foundation set up by the seven-time Formula 1 world champion.

They are part of the second cohort of students to receive the grant from Sir Lewis’ foundation, Mission 44, supported by the Royal Academy of Engineering. 

The scholarship programme, established in June 2022, aims to increase diversity within Formula 1 and UK motorsport, and to address the underrepresentation of individuals from Black or Black mixed ethnic background in the industry.

Five of the 13 students who have so far been awarded scholarships under the programme have chosen Oxford Brookes for their studies.

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The five scholars from the first cohort have since graduated and are working in F1 and the wider sector. 

Sir Lewis HamiltonGordana Collier, head of the School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics at Oxford Brookes said: “We are very proud to support Wesley, Steven, and Gerren as they pursue their dreams of a career in motorsport through this amazing opportunity with Mission 44 and the Royal Academy of Engineering.

“They gain not only access to top-tier facilities and education but also become part of a community driving much-needed change in the industry. We look forward to seeing the impact these students will make in motorsport.”

The MSc Motorsport Scholarship Programme was started following The Hamilton Commission’s report ‘Accelerating Change: Improving Representation of Black People in UK Motorsport’, which highlighted an underrepresentation of Black people in the motorsport industry.

Each student on the scholarship will receive a £28,000 grant for their studies. 

Mr Naaba, Mr Massumbukolt, and Ms Ntiri will be able to take advantage of cutting edge facilities at two brand new and innovative buildings at Oxford Brookes University’s Headington Hill site.

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The new facilities, which will open for Semester Two of the 2024/25 academic year, include a new teaching building, a specialist purpose-built workshop and improved outdoor spaces within a picturesque woodland setting. 

Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE, Chief Executive of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said: “We are delighted to be supporting this new cohort of brilliant young engineers.

"This programme will give them incredible opportunities to meet representatives of many F1 and motorsport employers and we’ve already seen the success of the programme with last year’s graduates finding employment in the motorsport sector.

"We are grateful to Sir Lewis and Mission 44 for their support with this programme, which we hope will catalyse a step change in the employment of Black people in the UK motorsport sector.”