UWTSD competes in the MCC Exeter Long Distance Trial with Morgan Plus 4 using fully Sustainable Fuel

8 January 2024

A team from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s (UWTSD) Motorsport programme completed the 94th Exeter Trial on the January 6 using fully sustainable fuel, Coryton Sustain 100, in the University’s Morgan Plus Four car.

Tim Tudor stands leaning slightly on the door of a pale green Morgan Plus Four.

The event started at 3.45am at Haynes Museum in Sparkford, with a route of 165miles, finishing in Kingsteignton, Devon, 12 hours and a number of special tests and sections later.

UWTSD has a number of undergraduate projects being conducted in collaboration with Morgan Motor Company who donated the car to the university to support student projects. It is the first Morgan with a CX-Generation aluminium platform to compete in an MCC long distance trial, where Morgan sports cars have a long history, first competing with a works team in 1910.

The car ran for the entire trial on 100% sustainable fuel provided by Coryton which required no modification to the vehicle’s BMW B48 powertrain which ran faultlessly.

Motorsport programme director and Senior Lecturer Tim Tudor who competed in the car said: “It was fantastic to have the opportunity to showcase our Morgan Plus Four and use of sustainable fuel during this historic motorsport event, one where Morgan has a long running history.

“The car was comfortable, and we finished with no problems, albeit having missed out on award due to failing a section.”

This academic year is the 25th anniversary of University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s BEng Motorsport Engineering Degree programme. It was pioneering at the time, being the first of its kind in the world.

Through the vision of Roger Dowden, and guidance from the Motorsport Industry Association, the course has made graduates valuable assets in the competitive world of motorsports and automotive engineering, with many working as race engineers, aerodynamicists, data analysts or in managerial positions for racing teams.

Others have found opportunities in automotive companies, specialising in high performance vehicle development.

Alumni work at world-leading automotive companies such as Morgan Motor Company, McLaren, Gordon Murray Automotive, Arc, Bentley, Ford, and Toyota Gazoo Racing.