By Phil Huff (01/08/2003)
August 1 2003

The Western Mail, Wales' only national morning daily newspaper, is reporting that Julie Pegler, a graduate of Swansea Institute's motorsport degree course, has been given the job of helping Lucky Strike BAR Honda stars Jacques Villeneuve and Jenson Button onto the winners' rostrum. She has been signed up as an engineer by BAR catapulting her into the glamorous world of Formula One racing that has traditionally been a male bastion. Female engineers are as few and far between as drivers in the ultra-competitive and money driven world of Formula One and it is thought Julie's success in joining BAR will help to bring more and more women into the sport.

Her final year project work focused on the complex world of computational fluid dynamics. Known simply as CFD, the computer based discipline forecasts and helps design new methods of fluid flow inside the engines which power fighter aircraft and today's commercial airliners, as well as computing the intense stresses, strains and air flow around multi-million F1 cars.

She will be involved in designing racing cars of the future and in examining the race-to-race performance of the super fast vehicles piloted by BAR star drivers Button and Villeneuve.

Institute motor sport course director Roger Dowden said yesterday, "The Formula One team were was very impressed with Julie's dedication and commitment when she worked with BAR on her final year project. They decided to offer her an engineering post and she will specialise in CFD."