Aspiring young engineer Dotty Squibb, from Redruth, will be test driving life in the fast lane next month having won a sought-after spot on a one-week work placement with one of the world’s leading Formula One teams.

Dotty, 14, impressed ex-McLaren and Williams engineer, James Robinson, with her commitment to Truro High's Greenpower Race team leading to him recommending the young driver to the talent acquisition team at Williams F1.

James works closely with the school’s Greenpower Race team offering expert advice and support to its young engineers as they design, build and race their very own electric automobiles. Last season even saw him rolling up his sleeves and aiding with emergency repairs in the pits as the team’s newest car, the 11th Hour, broke into the championship’s top 100 places. The latest addition to the team’s five-strong fleet, the largest school team in the country, now ranks at number 92 in the UK.

Dotty will be heading to the Williams headquarters in Oxfordshire where she will get a fascinating insight into the diverse range of skills and occupations required by the company to produce a Formula One racing car.

She said: “I am really excited about this opportunity I have been offered and I am certain it will help me on my path to becoming an engineer.”

It’s going to be a busy summer for the young engineer who is also working alongside the founder and owner of Rally Prep, Neil Yates, on a hands-on work experience placement in June. Rally Prep are one of the UK’s leading motorsport preparation companies and work with world-renowned car manufacturers including BMW and the Toyota Rally team.

Head of STEM, Jon Dean said: “Dotty has been an outstanding member of our Greenpower team both as an engineer and a driver and this is a really exciting opportunity for her to take the first steps towards making her goal of becoming a professional engineer a reality. We couldn’t be more proud.”