A childhood fascination that sparked a career
James Dornor’s fascination with engineering began long before he studied at Coventry University. As a child, he was constantly dismantling Lego builds, or Meccano sets to figure out how they worked. That curiosity eventually turned to cars, where he found himself studying faults, analysing problems and dreaming up solutions.
“Cars and racing were always my passion,” James said. “I wanted to understand not just how they operated, but how to improve them. That drive to solve problems is still what motivates me today.”
These passions have fuelled a career that’s taken him from working with world-class Formula One teams to founding his own non-profit dedicated to opening doors in motorsport for underrepresented communities.
Building strong foundations at Coventry University
Today, James is the CEO of Driven By Us, a community-led organisation making motorsport more accessible, while also serving as a Principal Systems Engineer at Leonardo. But he’s quick to credit Coventry University for giving him the foundation to get where he is today.
The leap from college to university can be daunting, but for James, Coventry University’s Automotive Engineering with Foundation Year BEng (Hons) was instrumental in making that transition smoother.
“It gave me the skills, confidence and friendships I needed,” he says. “The lecturers were approachable, supportive and really invested in helping us succeed. That experience built my communication skills, my ability to work in teams and my leadership qualities – all of which have been crucial throughout my career.”
Learning by doing
Coventry University’s project-based learning also gave James valuable, hands-on experience. One standout memory was a group project to reverse engineer a road bike. The team measured every component, recreated it in CAD software and ran fatigue and stress tests to identify weak points.
“That project was a perfect example of how what you learn at university translates directly to the real world,” James explained. “In motorsport, we’re constantly analysing components in the same way, testing their performance, finding breaking points and improving designs.”
From Coventry to Formula One
After graduating in 2011, James’s career quickly took off. Early roles saw him working as part of motorsport teams such as BMW and McLaren Automotive to learn the foundations of being a motorsport engineer followed by Haas Formula One, where just 65 staff members worked in the factory. That close-knit environment meant everyone pitched in beyond their specialist roles.
“I might have been focused on systems engineering but I’d also help with logistics or calibrating sensors,” James says. “It gave me a broad skillset and a deep appreciation for collaboration.”
That adaptability served him well when he moved to Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, a larger operation with more than 1,000 staff. There, he specialised in managing heritage cars from an electronic systems perspective both on and off car systems.
“Working at Mercedes was a dream come true,” he said. “I never imagined I’d have the chance to be part of a team operating at the very highest level of motorsport.”
Driving inclusion through Driven By Us
While enjoying professional success, James also saw a gap in the industry – a lack of representation and support for people from ethnic minority backgrounds. That realisation led him to found Driven By Us, a non-profit built on three core pillars: Community - providing a safe space for people already working in automotive or motorsport to network and share experiences; Outreach - inspiring the next generation through STEM programmes in schools, often in areas with little or no exposure to motorsport; and On-track development – supporting young drivers from underrepresented groups through a sustainable racing academy.
“We take motorsport to people who wouldn’t otherwise have access to it,” James said. “Whether that’s giving school students the chance to build a go-kart or helping a young driver progress in their career, it’s about creating opportunities that simply didn’t exist before.”
National recognition and global ambition
The impact of Driven By Us has been significant, earning recognition at the highest levels. The team has been invited to Downing Street, received the Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award and attended Buckingham Palace garden parties in celebration of their voluntary work and impact on education for communities.
For James, these moments are rewarding but the true measure of success is seeing people succeed because of the opportunities Driven By Us provides.
“Helping someone achieve their dream and then supporting them as they take their next steps is as exciting for me as seeing a Formula One car take pole position,” he said.
Recent months have been some of the busiest yet for James and Driven By Us. In July alone they hosted a community hub at the British Grand Prix, featured on stage at the Goodwood Festival of Speed discussing diversity in motorsport, and took community members behind the scenes at the London E-Prix.
The next big step is international. Driven By Us will soon launch in North America, extending its network, workshops and programmes to underrepresented communities across the Atlantic.
“Our mission is global now,” James said. “We want to see the same change we’ve been driving in the UK happening worldwide.”
Inspiring the next generation
James is passionate about mentoring and often speaks directly to young people hoping to follow in his footsteps – especially those from underrepresented backgrounds.
“Ask questions,” he advises. “I was shy and didn’t speak up enough when I was younger. There’s no such thing as a silly question, the more you ask, the more you learn.”
He also encourages students to think beyond their academic achievements. “Work experience is just as important as your degree. Go above and beyond so your CV stands out, show that you’ve taken initiative and built skills outside of the classroom.”
“The foundation Coventry University gave me, the skills, the network and the confidence, set me on this path. I want to make sure others have that same chance to follow their dreams.”
Find out more about studying Engineering at Coventry University.
