15/07/2011
NEWS STORY
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It has been a busy couple of weeks for F1 in Schools, with the initiative flying the flag for young engineering talent and showcasing winners of its innovative Formula 1 linked education programme at a number of high profile events.
The British Grand Prix was the highlight of the year for winners of F1 in Schools 2011 National Finals Awards, with eight teams visiting this prestigious event on the British sporting calendar. Prior to the Grand Prix weekend the reigning UK F1 in Schools champions, 'Dynamic', from St. John Payne Catholic Comprehensive School in Chelmsford, Essex, were guests of Hilton Racing for a high profile media event, the Hilton on Park Lane Pit Stop Challenge. A group of UAE primary school students flew in to the UK to link with the Bloodhound SSC land speed record project at the Goodwood Festival of Speed earlier this month and this week teams of 9-11 year old primary school students competed at the T1 Primary Racing Challenge 2011 finals, supported by F1 in Schools, held at the Williams F1 team HQ.
Silverstone Wing wows students
The new Wing pit and paddock complex was visited each day of the Formula 1 British Grand Prix weekend and for a couple of days in the build-up, with F1 in Schools teams being hosted by Formula 1 teams for exclusive garage tours, after each team had a chance to see the impressive motorhomes and shiny trucks in the paddock area. An international F1 in Schools visitor was Mark Nanney, a team member from UNITUS Racing, a USA F1 in Schools team and current F1 in Schools World Champions, who flew in from America for the Grand Prix and a chance to meet prospective employers of the future, as he is keen to gain an engineering experience placement with a Formula 1 team.
The generosity of Formula One Management and Silverstone Circuit ensured everyone had a trip to remember, with prime seats for the racing action capping off a truly special day for the F1 in Schools winners.
Dynamic takes a pitstop in London's Park Lane
Dynamic, the current F1 in Schools champions, the first team to successfully defend the title after winning in 2010 and 2011, took time out of school and fund-raising for the F1 in Schools World Finals for a pitstop in London. This wasn't just a snack break, but a chance to experience the work of a McLaren race mechanic, as each team member had a go at changing a wheel on a McLaren F1 race car. Two of the fastest tyre changes of the day were recorded by Ed Talboys and Michael Smith from Dynamic.
Speedy scale models at Goodwood
The Bloodhound SSC land speed record project is linked with F1 in Schools for younger students taking part in the programme, with the challenge to build a miniature land speed record car. At Goodwood Festival of Speed Richard Noble and the Bloodhound project hosted two junior teams from UAE, the Al Hayer Heroes and Al Khubairat Desert Arrows teams, who have designed and built cars which are miniature versions of the land speed record cars. The competition at the Goodwood Festival of Speed was held in the Bloodhound team's pavilion, where UAE teams took the opportunity to learn more about the Bloodhound Project.
Williams F1 visit for T1 Primary Racing Challenge
F1 in Schools is supporting a challenge which links well with F1 in Schools and was delighted to sponsor prizes at the T1 Primary Racing Challenge Finals. Sponsored by Williams F1 and Cambridge University Press, the challenge is for year 5 and 6 students (aged 9-11). The race cars are made out of card and race down an F1 in Schools 20 metres track, powered by a compressed air cartridge, as with the F1 in Schools challenge. The pupils then research, design, develop and make the race car body, including graphics. In a closely fought competition, Flying Flames from St. Saviour's Primary School, Bath were crowned the winners of this year's T1 Primary Racing Challenge.
"Bringing young engineering talent closer to industry"
Andrew Denford, Founder and Chairman, F1 in Schools, says of the busy F1 in Schools calendar, "This month we've been involved with a number of different activities, all showcasing our programme and bringing young engineering talent closer to industry. The support we are given from FOM and Silverstone Circuit gives our students such an amazing experience; the visit is a great prize for our National Finals winners and if they needed any more motivation to consider engineering as a career, the F1 paddock is certainly a place which delivers inspiration.
"This month we've been involved in activities at the junior level as well, and this is a growing element of the programme, capturing the imagination of students at an early age and engaging them in study through practical learning, which is proving very popular. The Bloodhound SSC project and its links with education is an excellent fit for younger students involved with F1 in Schools and Richard (Noble) is a great ambassador for pioneering in engineering. It's been a busy few weeks for F1 in Schools and we've had a great time showcasing our work around the UK."