Transitioning into motorsport: Rikki Abels’ story

CASE STUDY

Final Rank: Major
Years Served: 8

Established in 2015, the NMA proudly delivers the world's first online motorsport engineering degree in collaboration with De Montfort University, Leicester (DMU). There are many benefits to studying an online degree, including flexibility, affordability with 33% lower fees, and because it’s online, you can choose your own study times and start date.

There are two NMA degree options through ELCAS.

• BSc (Hons) Motorsport Engineering
• MSc Advanced Motorsport Engineering.

The National Motorsport Academy positions itself as a practical route into motorsport for armed forces members.

Dr. Kieran Reeves, Director of Motorsport, states, "At the National Motorsport Academy, we are very proud of our armed forces and we wanted to ensure we could be partnered with the ELCAS funding route so that we can ensure personnel who are transitioning from the services gain employment."

Transitioning from the military to motorsport is smoother than many might expect.

Dr. Kieran Reeves emphasises this. "Our armed forces teach and train many Engineers to an excellent standard, and we have found any service personnel who take up our courses gain excellent results and transition well into the world of motorsport ensuring they have a career for many more years."

One glowing example of this is National Motorsport Academy graduate: British Army Major, Rikki Abel. Rikki’s journey is one that exemplifies a successful transition from the military to motorsport. Currently serving in Abbey Wood, Bristol, Rikki was Involved within motorsport from a young age. His motorsport aspirations were initially put on hold whilst he focused on his early army career, but eventually wanted to gain academic recognition to back up his prior engineering experience as well as giving him options for the future.

In a conversation with the NMA, he said "Before finding the NMA, I had a lot of practical skills in motorsport, having built, driven, and ran my own race cars. I wanted to gain academic recognition to back this experience up, as well as cover areas that I hadn’t learnt about before, such as electric vehicles, alternative fuels and aerodynamics".

Before joining the NMA, Rikki’s biggest concern was around military commitments leading to protracted periods on duty meaning he couldn’t study. These concerns were quickly alleviated as you're able to pause and resume studies throughout the degree.

"The NMA has mechanisms in place that you can pause your learning due to military commitments and restart on your return. I used it twice during my studies, and this eased any concerns of meeting deadlines for my submissions whilst working away."

Rikki often studied during any free time he could get, studying "anywhere I could use my laptop or could read a book, even sat at an airhead or overseas’’. He added, "I used real-life experiences from the paddocks I voluntarily worked at to shape my study."

Rikki graduated in 2021 and has since experienced the benefits of his degree in both his military and motorsport careers. His engineering-based degree has expanded options for him in the military, whilst in motorsport, he has worked in various competitions, including in British Touring Cars where he had the opportunity to work on Nicholas Hamilton’s car with Team Hard. Using knowledge from his degree, he’s also managed to grow his Race Team; Kiaana Motorsport. Kiaana Motorsport is a race team where all team members have an association to the military. They most recently raced in the 750 Motorclub with a Nissan 370z GT race car built from scratch with a 3.7 Litre V6 engine and a fully redeveloped chassis.

You can find out more about Kiaana Motorsport by heading to the blog section on the National Motorsport Academy’s website

Rikki’s story goes to show that the skillset you learn in the military can be transferred over to a career in motorsport, post or during service. ELCAS funding is accessible for serving armed forces personnel and service leavers. For more information about courses or ELCAS applications, contact the National Motorsport Academy team at hello@motorsport.nda.ac.uk.

There is also a Top-Up option, "involved" The point here isn't overly obvious to me. Did he want to get a formal engineering qualification to backup his army experience? In a conversation with NMA, Rikki said "could you just say "all race team members are part of, or have served in the military."

Interview with Rikki Abel

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background in motorsport?

I am Major Rikki Abel, currently serving in the army and based at Abbey Wood, Bristol. I have been involved within motorsport from a young age, starting with karting. When I joined the Army my motorsport aspirations were paused but whilst posted to Germany I reignited my motorsport hobby, I joined an Anglo-Germany Rallycross championship 2008. I also gained my Germany Drift licence and also competed in the British Drift Cup in 2013/14. On returning to the UK I moved back in circuit racing but in cars and been involved in motorcar racing ever since.

What inspired you to pursue a course at the National Motorsport Academy through ELCAS?

I have a lot of practical skills in motorsport having built, driven and ran my own race cars but wanted to gain academic recognition to back this experience up. I also wanted to cover areas that I have not had a chance to learn about before; such as electric vehicles, alternative fuels and aerodynamics.

How did you learn about the ELCAS scheme? What made you choose it?

I have known of the ELCAS scheme for many years but I didn’t know how I wished to use the funding to support my learning requirements, until I found NMA.

Can you share your experience with the ELCAS application process and any challenges you may have faced? Or was it relatively streamlined?

I was the first person that used ELCAS to fund my study with the NMA and the process was painless. This has further been refined and is now a smooth and well trodden path with it’s own ELCAS ID 10288.

How did you find your learning experience during your time at the NMA?

My biggest concern was “what if I was to go away for a protracted period, can I still do the course?” The NMA has mechanisms in place that you can pause your learning due to military commitments and restart on your return. I used it twice during my studies and this eased any concerns of meeting deadlines for my submissions whilst working away.

Did you find the courses offered by NMA were beneficial to your career in motorsport?

Since starting my degree I have worked in the British Touring Car, British GT, Classic Le Mans, TCR UK and various club paddocks in multiple roles. I have also established my own race team, Kiaana Motorsport, and it has slowly expanded and developed over the years.

How did NMA fit in around your life?

I studied anywhere I could use my laptop or could read a book, so I used spare time whilst sat at an airhead or sat on the proverbial burgen to read and learn. I continued to study overseas and also used real life experiences from the paddocks I voluntarily worked within at the weekends to shape my study.

In what ways do you believe the ELCAS program has enhanced your ability to pursue a career in motorsport?

In short, cost. It was key that I continued to earn my forces salary whilst studying in my spare time. If I were to leave the forces and go into full time studies then I would of ended up with £1000’s of student loans and debts. But with ELCAS supporting my studies with funding that cost was significantly reduced and became affordable.

Are there any particular advantages or support mechanisms provided by ELCAS that you find valuable

In collaboration with the NMA and ELCAS the majority of each years costs were paid up front by ELCAS and then the remaining balance was payable via month instalments set up through the NMA.

How do you envision the National Motorsport Academy and ELCAS contributing to your career goals in motorsport?

It already has, I have established Kiaana Motorsport Ltd as my own racing team but also it opened doors with working with well established race teams across the various paddocks I mentioned earlier.

Have you seen any immediate or long-term impacts on your career trajectory since completing the program?

In my military career having an engineering based degree has seen more options made available to me regarding career streams. I am not an engineer by trade so adding this qualification has enforced my technical background and has been used in an application into a recent post of which I fulfilled.

What advice would you give to individuals considering the National Motorsport Academy through the ELCAS program?

Use the ELCAS as efficiently as possible. You can split you claim instalments to meet each year of study. I was fortunate to have served over 8 years so had the larger sum of funding per year. But do remember you can pay any balances with a student loan if required.

Are there any specific tips or insights you wish you had known before starting the program?