Enter now for F1 Schools’ Challenge

SCHOOL pupils in KZN are encouaged to enter the Legacy Initiative’s F1 in Schools’ Technology Challenge for 2015.

Powered by Top Gear Festival and Durban University of Technology, schools are invited to enter this exciting challenge and test their skills by designing the ultimate Formula 1 car of the future. Organisers are encouraging more schools to take part as the 2015 competition is now open for registration.

The F1 in Schools’ Challenge is a global multi-disciplinary competition, open to secondary schools. It challenges secondary school students (Grade 9 to 11) to design, build and race miniature compressed air-powered balsa wood Formula 1 cars of the future. Student teams will compete against each other to determine the best engineered and fastest car in KZN.

The challenge inspires students to use IT to learn about physics, aerodynamics, design, manufacture, branding, graphics, leadership/teamwork, media skills, sponsorship, marketing and financial strategy, and apply them in a practical, imaginative, competitive and exciting way. Each team of between three and six students will create a ‘pit’ display and showcase their work in developing their race car, with a verbal and written presentation for the judges.

The teams will race their model car on a specially designed 20 meter test track, with the cars covering the distance in just over one second. The Challenge, in its fourteenth year, was introduced to the UK in 2000 and since this time has expanded to over 40 countries, reaching over 20 million students taking part around the globe.

Design will play a critical role in the success of the teams – both in the design of the car itself and the people involved in bringing that design from the initial idea right through to the starting grid. Team members must be carefully chosen and trained to work together, using cutting edge design software and the latest in manufacturing technology.

Contact Anna Sacks on anna@topgearlivesa.co.za