THE official opening of new engineering centre at a Hampshire college got off to a swift start, when a former Grand Prix world champion did the opening honours.

Jody Scheckter opened the Motor Vehicle and Agriculture Engineering Centre at Sparsholt College near Winchester.

He was joined by Ross Brawn, a designer and Formula 1 team principal, who has overseen world title wins for Michael Schumacher and Jenson Button.

Jody and Ross joined industry guests and students to open the facilities which have been equipped with the latest technology for engineering training.

Jody won the world title in 1979 and now farms organically in Hampshire, at Laverstoke Park, near Whitchurch.

Ross said: “I started as a mechanical engineering apprentice and I always remember the maxim that ‘luck is preparation waiting for an opportunity’. What I’d like to say to the young students, is today is your preparation, your opportunities will come in some stage of your life. If you’ve got the training and have had the education, you can grab those opportunities.”

Jody said: “I left school and went to a technical college to work with cars and really loved it – I was switched on to learning there. The facilities here are far better and my career has flourished from those early days, so if you keep at it, the sky’s the limit.”

College principal Tim Jackson said: “We could not have two more inspiring people to open our new Motor Vehicle and Agriculture Engineering complex.

"Jody and Ross are a blend of high-level engineering, performance and agricultural excellence which is how we see our new Motor Vehicle complex at the heart of our land-based and outdoor community here on the campus.”