Shropshire enters the grid with first winners of the F1 in Schools announced

Budding F1 engineers from Shropshire schools were given the chance to test out their innovation, manufacturing skills and pit stop techniques for the first time recently.

In-Comm Training, working with partners MyWorkwear and the University of Wolverhampton race team, secured funding to host the inaugural F1 in Schools event in our region.

The STEM competition involves teams of students aged 9 to 19-years-old and encourages them to deploy CAD/CAM software to collaborate, design, analyse, manufacture, test and then race miniature compressed air-powered cars made F1 card or a model block.

Despite Covid-19 getting in the way, we managed to stay in touch with local schools keen to take part and were delighted to host more than 24 teams at our Telford Technical Academy over the two days.

This included young engineers from Wrockwardine Wood, Short Wood, Apley Wood Primary School, John Randall Primary School, Madeley Academy, Charlton School, Shrewsbury School, Thomas Adams and Kinver High School.

Over the course of the event, teams were judged by industry experts from Howmet, Magna, Assa Abloy, RBSL, Purple Frog Systems, STEM Ambassadors and Aico on their pit displays, verbal presentations, design engineering and, importantly, their racing.

After some tough competition, the winning teams were announced as Apley Wood Primary School and Kinver High School for the Primary and Secondary categories respectively. Both schools will now represent Shropshire at the National Finals in late June.

“It has taken a lot of hard work, time and creativity to get this event on and for Shropshire to have the opportunity to test its skills in F1 Schools – not even the pandemic could stop us,” explained Leanne Mee, Managing Director of The STEM Workshop.

Leanne Mee (far right) pictured with In-Comm Ambassadors

“We wanted to offer a more bespoke experience than you would usually get, so all the teams received a guided tour of our Telford facility from the In-Comm Ambassadors and also had the chance to take part in a Pit Stop challenge with the University of Wolverhampton Race Team and their Formula 3 car.”

She concluded: “Wishing Apley Wood Primary School and Kinver High School all the best when they take on the nation’s best in June!”

Shropshire’s regional finalists will also be showcasing their work at the upcoming RAF Cosford Air Show in June and will get to visit a PRAGA race day and see the University of Wolverhampton Race team in action.

In addition, the two schools will receive sponsorship from MyWorkwear to help them bring the titles back to the county.

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