University of Warwick named first STEM Racing Centre of Excellence in Motorsport Valley
The open-access engineering hub, backed by Maaden and the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team, opens to local schools in the next academic year.
Students from local schools visited the Aston Martin Technology Campus ahead of the British Grand Prix as part of the STEM Racing partnership launch
The University of Warwick has been named the first STEM Racing Centre of Excellence in Motorsport Valley, under a new partnership with STEM Racing, mining company Maaden, and the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team.
Opening in the upcoming academic year, the Centre of Excellence will operate as an open-access engineering hub for neighboring schools, giving students access to industry-standard equipment for computer-aided design (CAD), CNC machining, and aerodynamic testing. University of Warwick engineers will provide hands-on guidance and mentoring.
Motorsport Valley, in the Southeast Midlands, is home to seven of Formula 1's eleven current teams. The partners say the Centre will strengthen the regional talent pipeline for motorsport, engineering, and advanced manufacturing careers.
The Centre is funded by Maaden as part of the company's multi-year youth development program with the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team. Maaden is the largest multi-commodity mining and metals company in the Middle East.
Anabelle Denford, Partnerships Director at STEM Racing, says: "Twenty-six years ago, we founded STEM Racing to make engineering exciting, accessible and rooted in real-world experience by challenging young people to design, manufacture and race their own miniature F1 car."
"The Centre of Excellence will give students the facilities, expertise and hands-on experience to build confidence, develop practical engineering skills and explore where those skills could take them. We're giving young people the confidence to believe they belong in engineering and the opportunity to take that first step," she adds.
Students visit Aston Martin campus ahead of British Grand Prix
More than 80 students from eight local schools visited the Aston Martin Technology Campus ahead of the British Grand Prix for a day of STEM Racing activities and a campus tour, marking the start of their STEM Racing journey. The Centre of Excellence will give them a place to continue developing their engineering skills.
The launch event was attended by Maaden CEO Bob Wilt, Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team Ambassador Pedro de la Rosa, STEM Racing founder Andrew Denford, and James Meredith, Chief Engineer at Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) at the University of Warwick.
Online platform to follow in October
The partners also announced STEM Racing Learn, an online learning platform launching in October 2026. It will carry educational videos, classroom resources, and content presented by industry experts, extending STEM learning to students and teachers beyond the Centre.
STEM Racing, supported by Formula 1, challenges students to design, manufacture, and race miniature cars while developing skills in engineering, project management, marketing, finance, and teamwork. The program operates in more than 70 countries.
Stuart Croft, Vice Chancellor and President of the University of Warwick, says: "This ambitious partnership showcases the University of Warwick's commitment to inspiring the next generation of engineers and technicians. Through this Centre of Excellence, we are strengthening pathways into STEM careers and equipping young people with the skills, confidence and hands-on experience they need to shape the future of engineering. The University has a rich history of engineering expertise, which we are proud to pass onto the next generation."
The Centre of Excellence opens in the upcoming academic year, with STEM Racing Learn following in October 2026. The partners have not disclosed the funding amount behind the Centre.
