Pupils from Stevenston's Auchenharvie Academy have shown their science know-how in a Formula 1 inspired STEM challenge.

Horizon Racing from the school designed a winning race car in the Scotland Regional Final of the acclaimed F1 in Schools STEM (Science, Technology, Egineering and Maths) Challenge.

The team of six students: Jamie Johnson, Ryan Watt, Lewis Vick, James Cairns, Alicia Harrigan, and Nicole Alexander (all 17), have now earned a place at the National Finals which will be held at Autosport International Show, NEC, Birmingham in January next year

The competition, with three classes – entry, development and professional – challenges students to prepare business plans, design, analyse, make, test and race a scale model Formula 1 car.

A win at this national level competition would bring the Horizon team the opportunity to represent their country at the World Finals, to be held alongside an international Formula 1 Grand Prix.

In addition, the F1 in Schools UK Champions will receive UCL Engineering bursaries to the value of £5000, a trip to the British Grand Prix with an exclusive paddock tour, and the UK Champions trophy.

The team raced to Scottish success by developing their race car design, engineering and R & D and documented it in an engineering portfolio for the judges.

They showcased the marketing and sponsorship that they had used to create their team and produce their F1 in Schools race car in an enterprise document, also judged by an expert panel from industry and education.

The judges’ assessments of their written portfolios, verbal presentations, engineering drawings and designs produced high marks for the team.

Their car raced along the Official F1 in Schools 20 metres track with lightning speed too.

The team were delighted to take third place in the development class, win the pit display award, and a place at the F1 in Schools National Finals. 

Andrew Denford, Founder and Chairman at F1 in Schools praised the Regional Finals winning team.

He said: “It is great to see hard work, innovative design and passion for learning being recognised in the F1 in Schools STEM challenge.

"Bringing STEM to life and inspiring students to expand their curriculum learning through the competition is the essence of F1 in Schools.

"We’ve seen so much dedication and commitment from the students, they really embrace the challenge and prove their will to succeed. We look forward to seeing our winners at Autosport International early next year.”