Researchers from the University of Warwick’s WMG are helping a group of school children in their quest for more trophies at the “F1 in School” competition.

Pupils from North Leamington School raced away with trophies for Innovative Thinking, Fastest Car and Best Rookie Team in the regional heat and will be going for more gold at the national championship at the NEC, in Birmingham, on March 16 and 17, which coincides with The Big Bang - UK Young Scientists & Engineers Fair.

“F1 in Schools” is a multi-disciplinary challenge in which teams of students aged 11 to 19 deploy CAD/CAM software to collaborate, design, analyse, manufacture, test, and then race miniature gas powered balsa wood F1 cars.

Dr Greg Gibbons, Dr Steve Maggs, Dr Nick Mallinson and Darren Stewardson, all from WMG, visited North Leamington School to advise the students and demonstrate some of the engineering options available. The team subsequently made use of the facilities at WMG to produce one of the key components in their design.

Dr Gibbons said: “The pupils at North Leamington School have done a fantastic job already in the F1 in Schools competition and we hope that our advice and expertise can help them go up a gear or two for the national final in a few weeks time.”

North Leamington School’s head teacher, Joy Mitchell added: “The students have learnt so much from taking part in this competition and the involvement with WMG has really inspired them. To be able to access the state of the art manufacturing facilities at Warwick University is fantastic and has opened their eyes to opportunities in engineering.”

Notes to Editors

For more information contact Luke Hamer, Assistant Press Officer, University of Warwick, on 02476 575601, or on 07824 541142. Alternatively email l.hamer@warwick.ac.uk