Ron Dearing UTC students shine on the F1 in Schools starting grid

Ron Dearing UTC students involved in a global Formula 1 racing-inspired competition held an event to celebrate their achievements and introduce more teams to the contest.

Two teams from the employer-led school – Vortex Racing and Mach Racing – entered the F1 in Schools challenge, the world’s largest Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) competition, for the first time last year.

Vortex Racing won the regional finals with the fastest car, progressing to compete at national level, and celebrated their success at Porsche Centre Hull at Bridgehead Business Park in Hessle.

Mach Racing, who won the Star Quality: Verbal Presentation Award for the region in the first round of the competition last year, are racing again in next month’s regional finals in York and tested their vehicles at the event.

The evening also saw two additional Ron Dearing UTC teams – Impulse Racing and Magna Racing – announce their entry into the next F1 in Schools competition later this year and launch a bid for sponsorship from the school’s employer partners, alongside other businesses and invited guests from across the region.

 

The event to celebrate Ron Dearing UTC students’ racing-inspired achievements.

 

The teams pitched to potential sponsors, including representatives from the UTC’s employer partners, other leading businesses across the region and the students’ families and friends, about how their logos would be displayed and promoted on an international stage in the competition.

Based on the official F1 model, the F1 in Schools teams design and manufacture their miniature cars using specialist computer software. They also develop their brand, time management and budgeting skills, build their social media presence and link up with businesses to raise sponsorship for their teams.

The cars are powered by CO2 cartridges and are attached to a 25-metre track by a nylon wire and raced. They are timed by a computer from the moment they are launched to when they pass the finish line.

Glenn Jensen, Senior Assistant Principal – Employer Engagement at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “It was fantastic to see so many people supporting our F1 in Schools students at the event and we’d like to thank Porsche Centre Hull for their incredible hospitality.

“It’s so important for our students to take part in initiatives such as this. It’s about linking them to industry and giving them the best advice and guidance possible, so they can make a difference outside their school lives.

“F1 in Schools really contributes towards this and equips them with skills for life.”

Ron Dearing UTC students presenting to some of the school’s employer partners.

 

As part of their fundraising and networking efforts, the event at Porsche Centre Hull was held for the second consecutive year.

Last year’s event raised thousands of pounds towards offsetting the costs of each team and their potential participation at every level of the competition and the latest teams will continue collecting sponsorship throughout the season.

Dr Bruce Charlesworth, Chief Medical Officer at Reckitt, one of Ron Dearing UTC’s Founding Partners, said: “I’m always impressed with the students’ presentation skills, especially for their age.

“They’ve clearly got some real competitiveness going on, which is nice to see, and it’s great to watch them pitching.”

A raffle was also held on the night to raise money towards sponsorship for the two new teams, with the top prize of a Silverstone driving experience.

Year 11 student Zach Craig, 15, is the manager of Vortex Racing and said the F1 in Schools journey has been positive.

He said: “It’s been great and given me lots of experience in looking after a team, organising, engineering, project management, confidence and public speaking.”

Visit https://www.f1inschools.co.uk/ for more information about F1 in Schools.

Anyone who would like to sponsor a team can email gjensen@rondearingutc.com for further details.