Secondary school pupils compete in the F1 in Schools South West Championships at the University of Exeter.

South West schools excel in University of Exeter Formula One challenge

The engineering genius and sheer excitement of Formula One came to the University of Exeter for a special event on Wednesday 26 November.

Seven secondary schools from across the South West competed for the title of F1 in Schools South West champions.

The teams raced their miniature CO2-powered cars on a 20-metre track and presented their designs to a panel of judges. As well as speed, the teams were judged on their final car design, engineering development, teamwork and project presentation.

Professor Ken Evans, Head of the School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, which hosts the event, says: “This is the third year that we have hosted the South West Championships of F1 in Schools. This event is a great opportunity for us to help get kids as young as eleven excited about engineering. As well as having lots of fun, we hope the young people who took part will be inspired to consider studying engineering at University. We took the opportunity to show them some of the fantastic facilities we have here in Exeter for engineering students.”

  • Overall winners: Team Velocity, The Gryphon School, Sherborne, Dorset
  • 1st Place 11–14 Age Group: Team Memphis, St Dunstan's Community School, Glastonbury, Somerset
  • 1st Place 14–19 Age Group: Team Velocity, The Gryphon School, Sherborne, Dorset
  • Fastest D-Type Car: team Mouse, The Blandford School, Blandford Forum, Dorset, (1.134 seconds)
  • Fastest R-Type Car: Team Velocity, The Gryphon School, Sherborne, Dorset (1.195 seconds)
  • Innovative Thinking: Priory Flames & Fumes, Priory Community School, Weston-super-Mare
  • Best Team Sponsorship & Marketing: Team Velocity, The Gryphon School, Sherborne, Dorset
  • Best Team Identity: F1 Explosion, Ladymead Community School Technology College, Taunton, Somerset
  • Best Engineered Car: Ace Racer, Devonport High School for Boys, Plymouth, Devon
  • Best Rookie: Firebirds, Beechen Cliff School, Bath

The teams from The Gryphon School and St Dunstan’s School will compete to become the UK National Champions at the National final to be held at the Autosport International Show, at the NEC, Birmingham, 10 and 11 January 2009.

Manager for overall winners Team Velocity, Scott Bugler (age 16) of The Gryphon School, said: “It’s amazing. We didn’t expect to get this many awards. There’s more work for us to do to prepare for the final. We’re trying to improve the car, develop wheels and bearings and will also be working on some animation for our display.”

Mike Fenton-Wilkinson, Head of Art, Design and Technology at The Gryphon School added: “It’s an amazing reward for all the hard work the boys have put into this. I’m really, really proud of them.”

For the winning team, this event could be the start of something even bigger. Previous winners from Devonport High School for Boys (Plymouth) went on to win the World Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The event is part of the Global 'F1 in Schools Technology Challenge’.

Date: 27 November 2008