Motorsport gap year, apprenticeship, job, career????

[J.I.M]

Hi, this is my first post so if its in the wrong section, or already been covered, my apologies and please point me in the right direction.

Im in my final year of college, and have the grades to do motorsport or automotive design at uni. BUT i prefer the practical side, ideally id like to get my foot in the motorsport industry without the need for attending uni, not because im lazy but because i dont see 3 more years of education being particualrly beneficial to me personally.

i am pretty pracitcal, i could strip a motorbike to the ground, not quite as good with cars, but would like to learn, and im pretty good with automotive desing, cad/cam programs etc.

basically what im looking for is any info of companies, organisations, individuals or even basic jobs that can help me get into the industry, not too fussed about pay at this stage, id rather just get started, obviously got a few months until ive finished my a levels so it dosnt need to be a quick placement, just any suggestions ideas, offers or similar.

any help would be great, and if you need any more info let me know, thanks very much
jim

[J.I.M]

ok, thanks, im located near worcester, but would be happy to travel even on a worldwide scale.

also thought i might add i have some experience with both autograss and mx racing.

[J.I.M]

thanks for the comments so far, ive previously looked at a few companies offering apprenticeships and there are deffinetly some top looking courses out there. all i seem to get from anyone i mention apprenticship to is, you have a levels you should be going to uni.

any other ideas/companies

cheers v much for the help

Jim

[J.I.M]

yeh, came so close to applying to coventry for automotive design this year, and its deff my uni of choice if i decided to go next year, had a look round and all looks good leaves me reasonably local so can still see my mates and use the various tracks around here etc. BUT after looking through what the course entails it is alot of drawing and modelling whereass id really rather be doing something a bit more hands on.

unfortunatly it seems its either overly practical in the form of an apprenticeship where i keep being told im selling myself short and i should be taking a degree.

or its not practical enough in the form of drawing and making concepts out of clay without ever touching an engine.

maybe im asking too much but its something in between which im really searching for, where i can learn the practical side but also the development/business/design side of the inudstry and use the a levels even if just to a minor extent.

cheers again for all the input, keep it coming, thanks

jim