YOUNG race engineers have put themselves in pole position after qualifying for a global Formula 1 event.
Students from Emmanuel College, Gateshead, have qualified again for the finals of F1 in Schools, which will be held during race week at the Malaysian Grand Prix in September.
Every year, 22 million students aged 13-19 from 22,000 schools in 43 countries take part in the prestigious F1 in Schools contest.
For the first time ever in the 17-year history of the competition, Emmanuel College team members scored 100 per cent in the verbal element of the national heats.
They were also marked on their pit display, design portfolio, engineering skills and the performance of the CO2-powered race car, which posted a 1.132 second college record sprint time for the 20m run.
Emmanuel College’s Unity F1 team comprises manager Lucy Brooks, 16, Morgan Lisk, 15, Michael Farrell, Aaron Morris and Sam Chapman, all 16.
Students spent hours of their own time designing and constructing the model car using computer aided design and 3D printing.
In a major innovation they designed nostrils in the nose of the race car to create lift and reduce drag on the wheels to increase speed.
Students now have to find sponsors to help raise the £16,000 needed to travel to Malaysia, following in the tyre tracks of Emmanuel College students who qualified for the global final held in Singapore last year. They must also find an overseas partner school among the finalists as part of an international collaboration.
Lucy said: “The whole experience has been life-changing and we are all now going to pursue careers that have been inspired by the competition.
“We are also planning to develop our car further and are just so excited about the prospect of competing in Malaysia and being part of the F1extravaganza.”
Emmanuel College Principal Matt Waterfield added: “The whole school is incredibly proud of the team’s achievements which set the best possible example to all of our students and show what can be achieved with passion, commitment and hard work.”