Exeter School F1 in Schools team awarded national prize

Exeter School is celebrating winning a prestigious national award at the F1 in Schools Final.

Exeter School's most successful F1 in Schools team, Vulcan, competed in the Development Class National Final at Silverstone on 29 March, where they were awarded the Innovative Thinking Award.

The F1 in Schools competition challenges pupils aged 9-19 to build, test and race a model car they have designed from scratch on a multitude of industry standard computer programs.

After seven weeks of preparation following the regional final in February, the team of Year 10 pupils Oliver Tucker (Principal), Dominic Reay (Engineer), Redmond Coleman (Engineer), Evan Evans (Graphic Designer), Charles Finely (Support), and Leif Hafstad (Finance Manager), set off for the competition via an overnight stop in Banbury. Inside the Silverstone Wing, above the pit straight, the team faced similar tests and assessments to the regional final: racing their car, presenting to a panel of judges, and having their portfolios and pit display assessed, and their car scrutineered for compliance with the design regulations.

There were about 40 other teams, 12 of them in the same class as Vulcan.

Dr Adrian Rowland and Mr Martin Rose accompanied the team to Silverstone. They said they were delighted to come away with some silverware.

"The prize ceremony was followed as last year by a lap of the track in the school minibus, led by the ex-Stig Ben Collins in a very shiny Ferrari," said Dr Rowland.

Vulcan would like once again to thank their sponsors, whose kindness in collectively donating more than a thousand pounds has made this project possible. They are E-ston, Tallium, Meridian Finance and JazzyMedia. The whole competition has been an enjoyable experience for the whole team, and we are looking to compete again next year in the professional class.