Next generation of F1 stars shine at Yas Marina event

Jay Asser 12:25 13/05/2014
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  • Podium finish: Winners Project Speed team (c) celebrate alongside runners-up Top Speed team (r) and the Our Own High School team (l), who placed third.

    Youngsters impressed with a wide range of skills and smarts at the F1 in Schools National Championship at Yas Marina Circuit over the last two days.

    The students went through the process of engineering and designing model race cars which they put to the test in races at the event.

    Along with their cars, the teams were judged on the creativity and organisation of their pit displays and design portfolios.

    A number of awards and prizes were handed out, from ‘most likely to become an F1 commentator’ to ‘fastest car’. 

    This year saw 90 teams from 50 schools exhibit their work with the National Championships running from May 11-13 across three categories: Professional, Rookie and Primary Bloodhound.

    The top team from each category gets an invitation to represent the UAE at the World Finals, to be held at Abu Dhabi’s Ferrari World in November.

    Safire Racing of the German International School Dubai took home the title in the Professional category on Sunday, and won the National Finals for a third straight year, punching their ticket to yet another World Finals.

    Yesterday, Project Speed of Repton School followed suit in the Rookie category with a first-place finish.

    Team manager Findlay McCallum was elated with the result in his third National Finals.

    “It feels so good, I can’t believe we actually did it,” 12-year-old McCallum said. 

    “I mean when they said ‘Project Speed you win’, I jumped in the air screaming. I’m so proud. When we were sitting down there and they were calling up the first place, we didn’t know it was going to be us or not. 

    Since the F1 in Schools programme began locally in 2010, it’s given students a unique opportunity to get together with kids across the UAE and share in the love of F1 racing and engineering.

    While its enjoyable, the educational aspect of youngsters applying their learning in a real-world setting is essential, according to programme manager Abdullah Al Shammari.

    “It’s a fun activity for the kids but it has a lot of education embedded into in,” he explained. “You’re talking about maths, physics, English and other things they study in school.

    “It gives them a good reality of how things are after school, when it comes to university, when it comes to after university with working. Plus, it teaches them how to build a mini company." 

    CEO of Yas Marina circuit Al Tareq al Ameri was delighted with this year's competition, saying: “I’m a big fan of academia and the education system over here as it shapes the future leaders and its members to contribute effectively to our society.

    “I believe the programme adds a lot of values and has a lot of merits beyond the focus of the educational element, but beyond that it gives more insight into the real world, how it functions and is also a really good life experience.

    “We are very pleased with the growth in the event and the number of students and the level of their performance and we're working closely with the education system in Abu Dhabi to incorporate the programme within the core curriculum. I think every year they set new standards. I think every year they come better and more organised and they incorporate the latest technology in what they do. We are amazed with what they can achieve.”

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