He was rejected 50 times – now he's helping others reach Formula One

As Formula One fans flock to Northamptonshire for the British Grand Prix, one former engineer is using the sport's biggest weekend to inspire the next generation of motorsport talent.

James Dornor, founder and CEO of non-profit organisation Driven By Us, will be at Silverstone throughout the race weekend, promoting opportunities for young people from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue careers in motorsport and engineering.

The organisation, founded in April 2023 by Dornor, George Imafidon MBE and Francis Mensah, works to improve diversity and representation across motorsport and STEM industries through mentoring, school outreach programmes and industry partnerships.

A personal mission

Before working with some of the biggest names in Formula One, he faced more than 50 job rejections while trying to break into the automotive industry.

Born in north-west London to parents of Ghanaian heritage, he faced significant challenges from an early age. He spent his first months in intensive care after being born prematurely and later experienced the loss of his father as a young child.

His family moved between council homes before eventually settling down, experiences that he says helped shape his determination and resilience.

A placement year at BMW in 2009 eventually gave him his first opportunity, leading to roles at McLaren Automotive and later McLaren GT before moving into Formula One.

His career has since included working as a Trackside Systems Engineer with Haas F1 Team, supporting Kevin Magnussen, a Systems Support Engineer at McLaren Racing during Lando Norris's rookie Formula One seasons between 2018 and 2020, and an Electronics Support Engineer at Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, where he worked alongside seven-time world champion Sir Lewis Hamilton.

Speaking to Hits Radio, Dornor said those experiences helped shape his determination to create opportunities for others.

"Throughout my career I've always thought talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn't always," he said.

"It's about opening up those doors, networks and connections so talented young people can access industries they might never have considered possible."

Tackling an industry-wide challenge

Northamptonshire sits at the heart of the UK's "Motorsport Valley", home to Silverstone and many of the companies that help power the global motorsport industry.

But despite the area's reputation as a world-leading hub for engineering and innovation, significant barriers remain.

Driven By Us points to figures showing only 5% of engineering students at UK universities are from Black ethnic groups, while Black engineering graduates are twice as likely to be unemployed after graduating.

"Representation creates aspiration."

The organisation also says less than 1% of people employed in motorsport are Black, while fewer than 10% are women.

Dornor said greater representation is essential if the sport wants to attract the widest possible talent pool.

"When young people see someone who looks like them working in the industry, it becomes easier for them to imagine themselves in that role," he said.

Looking beyond the drivers

While the British Grand Prix is often associated with famous drivers and dramatic racing, Dornor wants more people to understand the vast workforce operating behind the scenes.

He estimates more than 100,000 jobs are supported across the wider motorsport ecosystem, from factory workers and engineers to logistics teams, marketers, hospitality staff and volunteer marshals.

"At the track there are dozens of people working on each car, but behind them there are thousands more in factories, design offices and supplier companies making everything possible." He said.

"You only see a small part of Formula One on television"

He added that many young people are unaware of the variety of jobs available within motorsport.

"There are routes through apprenticeships, vocational qualifications and work experience, not just university degrees," he said.

"What employers really want to see is experience, curiosity and a willingness to learn."

Inspiring the next generation at Silverstone

Driven By Us will operate a community hub at Silverstone throughout the Grand Prix weekend, where fans can meet industry professionals, learn about careers in motorsport and access mentoring opportunities. The organisation will also take part in public stage events, helping to showcase the career pathways available beyond the racing itself.

For Dornor, inspiring future talent is just as important as the action on track.

"We're not just focused on the drivers and the racing, we're focused on the future workforce of motorsport. " he said.

"There are talented young people all over the country who could contribute to this industry if they're given the opportunity.

''Our job is to help connect that talent with the people and organisations who can open those doors."

As Silverstone hosts another packed British Grand Prix weekend, Driven By Us hopes to ensure that the next generation of engineers, mechanics and motorsport professionals reflects the diverse communities that support the sport.

To find out more visit www.drivenbyus.org

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