Esports Students Compete in Williams F1 Student Racing League

East Sussex College’s Esports students recently had the chance to compete in the prestigious Student Racing League Finals, hosted at the Williams F1 HQ.

The event was streamed live on the Williams Esports Twitch channel, giving viewers a front-row seat to the action.

The team, made up of Driver 1 Jayden Brunsdon, Driver 2 Robert Mason, and Course Leader Ian Golledge, arrived at the Williams F1 HQ without any issues - a smooth start compared to last year’s journey!

The day kicked off with an insightful Esports & Careers talk, followed by a fascinating museum tour and an engaging STEM workshop. Along the way, the team even bumped into none other than Top Gear’s Stig, Ben Collins!

After a delicious lunch, the team geared up for a practice session. Though originally scheduled for an hour, technical delays meant the session was cut short to just 20 minutes. Despite the rush, the team was ready for the challenge.

The qualifying session didn’t go as planned for Jayden, who should have started in second but, due to a technicality and some poor management, ended up at the back of the grid in 17th. Despite the setback, Jayden pushed hard during the 29-lap race, working his way up to 7th place and earning Driver of the Day honours.

Robert, racing in his first LAN event, faced some challenges with the car setup and fatigue but still finished a respectable 13th.

While a podium finish was just out of reach this year, the team’s performance was impressive, and they’re already looking forward to a rematch next year!

Want to compete in events like this? Find out more about studying Esports at East Sussex College and get involved in the action.