on air diary...
F1 in Schools!
posted by Lee McKenzie on 13/01/2009
I normally meet lots of youngsters all wanting to be the next Lewis Hamilton or a racing driver but at the Autosport International Show I met hundreds of school pupils all wanting to be the next generation of F1 engineers and designers!
F1 in Schools is a tremendous project which encourages pupils to create their own ‘mini Formula One team’. Everything has to be covered from the design and manufacture of a car, marketing and sponsorship, to the ultimate test - how fast the car actually goes. This year’s UK National Champions are Essex team Velocity.
Team Velocity have worked tirelessly for the last six months, perfecting the design of their scale model Formula One car and beating over 200 teams from around the country to lift the F1 in Schools National title. They will now go forward to the World Championship event next year, with the prospect of racing for the prestigious Bernie Ecclestone trophy and coveted scholarships to City University, London.
Ben Edwards and I presented the competition over the two days at the NEC in Birmingham; Ben commentated and I did all the pit interviews. The enthusiasm was contagious and if you get a chance then you really should find out more about this wonderful project. You might not meet the next Lewis or Kimi but you certainly will see the next Adrian Newey. For more information you can visit www.f1inschools.co.uk
