AUSTRALIA WINS F1 IN SCHOOLS WORLD CHAMPIONS TROPHY AGAIN

Students from two schools, 3000 kilometres apart, proved that distance is no barrier to success in the F1 in Schools™World Finals 2013. A1 Racing, an in-country collaboration F1 in Schools team, beat 37 student teams today to lift the Bernie Ecclestone F1 in Schools World Champions trophy above their heads as the anthem,  ‘Rule the world’  reverberated through the room, confetti showered the winners and the Australian flag was raised behind them as they celebrated their success. 

 Australia - World F1 in Schools champions again

A1 Racing, a team of six students from Pine Rivers State High School, Queensland and Phoenix P-12 Community College, Ballarat, Victoria, worked hard to achieve their dream of taking the F1 in Schools World Champions title. They had earned their place at the event after success in the Australian National Finals earlier this year and as well as claiming victory were presented with the Fastest Car Award. Joining A1 Racing on the podium this evening were the runners-up from USA, Allegiance Racing from SoutheastHigh School, and Unlimited Acceleration from Lessing-Gymnasium Winnenden, in Germany, stood in third place.

 

Taking the World Champions title was a proud moment for A1 Racing with Jacqueline Cunninghame, Team Manager saying, “We can’t believe we won, it’s just amazing. There were so many good teams, it was really tough, so we’re really happy to have won this. It means everything to us.”

 

For one team member, Dylan Sexton, celebrations had to be put on hold as he was forced to return to his hotel room to sit a Business Management exam minutes after the team received the trophy. “I’m already 12 minutes late,” said the 17 year old student, “so I’ll have to celebrate later”.

 

F1 in Schools challenges students to create their own Formula One team which is commissioned to design, manufacture  and race the fastest miniature Formula One Car of the Future; a 21cm long scale model designed using 3D solid modelling software and machined from a block of balsa wood, incorporating 3D print technology in its front and rear wings. The F1 in Schools World Champions not only win the glass Bernie Ecclestone World Champions trophy but also coveted Motorsport and Automotive Engineering Scholarships for City University London.

 

At the World Finals each team brought along a pit display, their cars and portfolio, as well as having prepared a verbal presentation for the judges. The cars were raced on a 20 metre track, with the cars covering the distance in just over one second, a speed barrier which is yet to be broken by any student team since it was set by Team FUGA from Northern Ireland at the 2007 World Finals with a time of 1.020 seconds.

Andrew Denford, Founder and Chairman, F1 in Schools said of this year’s World Finals, “I’m always blown away by the professionalism, innovation, engineering capabilities and overall dedication shown by the World Finals teams. This year there was an incredibly high standard of work and it made it very difficult to judge. A1 Racing shone out from their rivals and deserved all their success and the World Champions title.”

 

“But it is not only the academic excellence that we have seen at the World Finals,” adds Denford. “F1 in Schools changes lives around the world and these boys and girls will have formed friendships which will last a lifetime. I know that they will all have learned life skills which will be invaluable throughout their careers and I’m very proud to have been able to give these great students this opportunity.”

 

A1 Racing’s Ben Marshall is an example of just how life-changing F1 in Schools can be. The 17 year old is a lifelong sufferer of High Function Autism Asperger’s Syndrome , he says, “I couldn’t really talk to people, approach people or introduce myself to people, but being  in the competition and learning all the new skills, it has given me so much confidence – I just want to talk to everyone, it has just changed my life, I love my life now.”

 

In addition to the crowning of the F1 in Schools World Champion 2013, 20 awards were presented in a variety of categories.

 

Full list of awards:

World Champions supported by Formula One Management and City University London

A1 Racing, PineRiversStateHigh School & Phoenix P-12 Community College, Australia

 

2nd Place supported by Circuit of The Americas

ALLEGIANCE RACING, Southeast High School, USA

 

3rd Place supported by The IET

Unlimited Acceleration, Lessing-Gymnasium Winnenden, Germany

 

FIA Women in Motorsport Award supported by FIA Women in Motorsport Commission

Alyssa Cote & Merritt Kendzior from ALLEGIANCE RACING, Southeast High School, USA

 

Verbal Presentation Award supported by Williams

Vector One, Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School, Canada

 

Innovative Thinking Award supported by Lotus F1 Team

Safire Blue Bullets Racing, GermanInternationalSchool, Dubai, Greece & UAE

 

Fastest Car Award supported by Mercedes AMG PETRONAS F1 Team

A1 Racing, PineRiversStateHigh School & Phoenix P-12 Community College, Australia

 

Team Identity Award supported by Ferrari

Lone Star Racing, Akins High School & Granbury High School, USA

 

The Best International Collaboration Team Award supported by Shell

Odyssey, Brighton Secondary School & Donabate Community College, Australia & Ireland

 

Outstanding Sportsmanship Award supported by Sahara Force India

ALLEGIANCE RACING, Southeast High School, USA

 

Best Engineered Car Award supported by Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

Bardahl Racing, St. David's Holy Faith Secondary School, Ireland

 

Chair of Judges Recognition of Achievement Award supported by Infiniti Red Bull Racing

X-Shift, Raffles Girls' School & WilmingtonGrammar School for Boys, Singapore & UK

 

Best  Newcomer Award supported by Sauber F1

Team Bolt, Amity International School, India

 

Pit Display Award supported by Toro Rosso

Motion Racing, Engadine High School, Australia

 

Team Sponsorship & Marketing Award supported by Marussia F1 Team

Petronas Tritan Racing, SMS Hulu Selangor, Malaysia

 

Portfolio Award supported by F1 Racing

Odyssey, Brighton Secondary School & Donabate Community College, Australia & Ireland

 

Research and Development Award supported by Pirelli

Surge, Mönchsee-Gymnasium & Colégio de S. Miguel, Germany & Portugal

 

Social Media Award supported by Caterham F1 Team

Adroit Infinitum, The IndianHigh School, Dubai, UAE

 

Team Website Award supported by Autodesk

Speed Deamons, Ellinogermaniki Agogi, Greece

 

The Crofty & Gary Pressure Challenge Award supported by Crofty & Gary

Safire Blue Bullets Racing, GermanInternationalSchool, Dubai, Greece & UAE

 

The F1 in Schools World Finals 2013 took place with the assistance of a host of sponsors and supporters including Circuit of The Americas, The Institution of Engineering and Technology, City University London, Autodesk and Austin Independent Schools District.

 

Article courtesy of Alison Hill ID PR & Marketing Ltd/FIA