THE smell of diesel and the sound of revved engines filled the air at Oxford & Cherwell Valley College yesterday.

Motoring students got up close and personal with potential employers as a number of rallying teams visited the Telford Road campus in Bicester.

Cars and a simulator were on show, and students got a chance to question companies on what is expected of them if they are to join the racing world.

Motorsport engineering student Josh Potts, 18, said the day gave him a great chance to explore his future career in his final year of his studies.

The North Aston resident said: “I’m quite interested in the IT behind motorsports and the science behind the cars, so I was asking plenty of questions about that. It’s not just about the cars and racing, so it was good for me to find out more about the IT side.

"My father has done a lot with the Le Mans 24-hour race – it’s something I have grown up with and I would like to follow in his footsteps.

“It was a really interesting day, and speaking to Force India was great fun.”