Diploma in Set-Up, Tyres and Brakes for Classic Racing
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in set-up, tyres and brakes for classic racing, with 8 modules covering classic car set-up, geometry and alignment, springs and dampers, historic racing tyres, brakes, gearing and transmission and track testing, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Set-Up, Tyres and Brakes for Classic Racing — studying from Ireland
Ireland has an active heritage vehicle and classic machinery community, supported by clubs, restoration workshops and specialist suppliers serving classic cars, motorcycles and agricultural equipment. Engineering skills in this area combine historical knowledge with modern techniques in fabrication, materials and diagnostics. Restoration work is often linked to heritage conservation and museum collections, and classic vehicles operate under national roadworthiness and vehicle registration rules. Professional bodies and enthusiast organisations help maintain standards and knowledge across the sector.
Fees for Ireland: €895 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Ireland
Typical roles
Questions from Ireland
Is there a recognised professional body in Ireland for classic vehicle restoration?
Classic vehicle restoration in Ireland is largely a craft and hobby sector, supported by enthusiast clubs and heritage bodies rather than a regulated professional title. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so they do not confer membership or formal recognition. Check the requirements of any club or body you wish to join.
Would Irish restoration businesses or employers value this qualification?
Restoration businesses in Ireland often rely on hands-on skill, reputation and portfolio work. A private online qualification may add to your CV, but employers decide for themselves whether it is relevant. Your final project can help show your capability, though there is no guarantee of any outcome.
Can I study this part-time while keeping my current commitments?
Yes, the programme is 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from home around existing commitments. Durations are 300, 800 or 1,900 hours depending on the course, so plan your schedule accordingly. Fees can be paid in instalments, and each student has an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Apply set-up principles to historic racing cars.
Measure and adjust suspension geometry.
Select springs, anti-roll bars and dampers.
Manage pressures and temperatures of period tyres.
Adjust brake systems for competition.
Choose transmission ratios according to the circuit.
Plan and analyse track test sessions.
Who it's for
- Historic racing track engineers.
- Classic racing car mechanics.
- Historic vehicle preparers.
- Data technicians.
- Historic racing drivers who want to understand and direct their car set-up.
- Team managers.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter historic motorsport.
What you'll work with
- Appendix K to the FIA International Sporting Code (historic competition vehicles)
- FIA International Sporting Code
- Appendix L to the FIA International Sporting Code (drivers and their equipment)
- ISO 8855 (vehicle dynamics vocabulary)
- SAE J670 (vehicle dynamics terminology)
- AiM Race Studio 3
- OptimumK
- MoTeC i2 Pro
- Microsoft Excel
8 modules
1.1Weight and corner weights1.2Centre of gravity1.3Load transfer1.4Understeer and oversteer1.5Period technical limitations1.6Set-up versus regulations1.7Driver feedback1.8Order of adjustments1.9Set-up logbook1.10Practical exercise: corner-weighting on scales
2.1Camber and its measurement2.2Caster and kingpin inclination2.3Toe-in and toe-out2.4Ride heights2.5Roll centre2.6Ackermann geometry2.7Flat set-up platform2.8String alignment2.9Effect of geometry on the tyre2.10Workshop: string alignment of a classic car
3.1Spring selection3.2Leaf springs in competition3.3Anti-roll bars3.4Period adjustable dampers3.5Bump stops and travel3.6Roll stiffness3.7Wet-weather set-up3.8Set-up for bumpy circuits3.9Comparative testing3.10Laboratory: comparison of spring rates
4.1Tyres permitted by period4.2Compounds and construction4.3Cold and hot pressures4.4Pyrometer and temperature reading4.5Wear and its interpretation4.6Heat cycles4.7Wet-weather tyres4.8Storage and shelf life4.9Period wheels and their condition4.10Practical exercise: reading temperatures with a pyrometer
5.1Drums versus discs5.2Brake balance5.3Master cylinders and proportioning valves5.4Period pads and linings5.5Bleeding and brake fluid5.6Brake cooling5.7Brake fade and its prevention5.8Bedding-in of pads5.9Checks between sessions5.10Case study: adjusting brake balance
6.1Choosing gear ratios for each circuit6.2Final drive6.3Limited-slip differentials6.4Racing clutches6.5Changing ratios between races6.6Calculating speeds per gear6.7Transmission reliability6.8Lubrication of old gearboxes6.9Recording configurations6.10Workshop: choosing a final drive for a circuit
7.1Test plan7.2Communication with the driver7.3Basic data loggers7.4Timing and split times7.5One change at a time7.6Set-up database7.7Track conditions7.8Qualifying and race set-up7.9Session report7.10Practical exercise: test session with report
8.1Selection of car and circuit8.2Initial condition8.3Weighing and geometry8.4Springs and dampers8.5Tyres and brakes8.6Gear ratios8.7Validation on track8.8Final set-up sheet8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
The programme is delivered 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original regulations and applied exercises. The working software is AiM Race Studio 3, OptimumK, MoTeC i2 Pro and Microsoft Excel, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: corner-weighting and ride-height set-up on a platform, reading tyre temperatures after a run and a test session with controlled changes. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrating project.
Standards covered: Appendix K to the FIA International Sporting Code, FIA International Sporting Code, Appendix L to the FIA International Sporting Code, ISO 8855, SAE J670.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with AiM Race Studio 3, OptimumK, MoTeC i2 Pro and Microsoft Excel, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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