A SCHOOL’s race crew is tuned and raring to go as it heads to the track in search of a podium finish.
Pupils from Marchbank Free School, Darlington, will take part in the annual Greenpower Challenge, held at Nissan’s test track in Sunderland, on Wednesday (May 25).
For the past four weeks pupils have worked with engineers from Cummins to build and perfect their battery-powered Green Goblin race car, called the Marchbank Racer, which is capable of up to 20mph.
The Marchbank team, comprising Liam Eland-Smith, 11, of Darlington, Gary Jenkinson, 10, of Darlington, Luke Knights, 11, of Catterick Garrison and Summer Underwood, 10, of Brompton-on-Swale, will take part in six races against schoolchildren from across the region.
Marchbank teaching assistant Kelly-Ann Smith said: “It has been an incredible experience and the best is yet to come at the test track.
“The children have learned so much, from team building to how to use tools. Many of them are really into their cars and our secret weapon will be Summer as she is the lightest member of the team, which should help performance and battery life.”
The Marchbank team was also sponsored by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, which helped with the cost of the car kit and Cleveland Scientific Institution that provided £500 towards the cost of tools and overalls.
The Sunderland regional qualifying event will see the fastest teams head to the national finals due to be held at Goodwood later in the year.