AN Oxford Brookes University graduate has been named as a finalist for the 2017 Autosport Williams Engineer of the Future Award.

Graduate Jonathan Fernandez Hee has been listed as one of just five UK students who impressed in the first round of the process and were selected to take part in an assessment workshop at the Williams HQ in Grove last week.

Jonathan, who studied a postgraduate degree in Motorsport Engineering, said: “Being a finalist in the Autosport Williams Engineer of the Future Award 2017 is the best reward to my dedication, commitment and hard work.

“One year ago I made the best decision in joining Oxford Brookes to study the Motorsport Engineering MSc, without them I would not have had this opportunity.”

Editor-in-Chief of Autosport magazine Edd Straw said: “This award embodies the fact that motorsport is just as much about engineering excellence as driving excellence, and perhaps even more so.

“The UK has a deserved reputation for developing many of the leading engineers in world motorsport, so it’s no surprise that the standard of applicants for the Autosport Williams Engineer of the Future Award has been so high.”

One of the five candidates will be chosen as the recipient of the Autosport Williams Engineer of the Future Award and will be crowned as a rising star of Formula One engineering.

The winner will also be offered a two-year placement in an accelerated career development programme that will see them mentored by senior engineers and gain experience at a Grand Prix.

The winner will be formally announced at the annual Autosport Awards on December 4.