Students from Cardinal Hume Catholic School in Wrekenton, Gateshead, have received sponsorship to take part in the 2017 Formula 1 in Schools competition.

F1 in Schools challenges students to create their own Formula One team which is commissioned to design, construct and race their car in the hopes of being the fastest miniature Formula One car of the future. The first round, Regional Heats took place at the Nissan plant in Washington on Friday 13th January 2017.

As teams are required to obtain sponsorship from a local business as part of their project, locally-based national accident specialists Winn Solicitors provided the school with funding to enable them to participate.

Team ‘Flash’, which is made up of students Lucy Tickell, Aisling Gorman, Eesha Sharif and Jessica Oneybuchi, all 15 years old, will design, build and race a small CO2 powered car.

Chemistry teacher at Cardinal Hume, Mr Atkin, who is mentoring team Flash throughout the project said;

“The F1 in Schools competition is a great opportunity to engage students in the STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths). It gives them real, hands-on experience of what it’s like to design, plan, construct and race a working CO2-powered car.

“Both myself and the students are extremely grateful to Winns for providing us with the support that allows us to compete in this years’ competition.”

The sponsorship from Winns was used to purchase uniforms, printing, car parts and resources for a pit display. Students were required to present a verbal presentation to a panel of judges covering all aspects of the challenge. As well at this, students put together a portfolio of work detailing the construction process of their car.

If the team progresses as well as hoped in the competition, they will advance to the National finals at Silverstone Circuit, where they will battle for a chance to compete in the international finals taking on teams from all over the world.

Manager of team Flash Lucy said;

“We’re so happy to have the opportunity to take part in the competition. Our inspiring science and Technology teachers told us about the exciting project and encouraged us to take part – they even bought us a race track to trial our designs on.

“The challenge has allowed us to develop our machining and computer aided design skills, we have also used the 3D printer and laser cutters design components and decals for the car. All of these are skills we would not have had experience of without the challenge.”

F1 in Schools was conceived to help change young people’s perceptions of science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) by creating a fun and exciting learning environment for young people. It is hoped that the fun and creative nature of the competition will help young people to develop an informed view about the potential of a career in engineering.

For more information about F1 in Schools, visit f1inschools.co.uk.