Scarborough students to compete in F1 in Schools world finals
The trio from Scarborough UTC the UK National Champions title last Autumn
Students in Scarborough are aiming to be on track for international glory at the prestigious F1 in Schools final this month.
The trio from Scarborough UTC won the UK National Champions title last Autumn, and now face dozens of teams from throughout the world in the 2022 Aramco F1 in Schools finals at Silverstone between Sunday 10th July to Thursday 14th July.
Avidity Racing team comprises of Missy McArdle, Libby Atkin and Alex Jenkin, who will be fine-tuning their compressed-air propelled miniature racing car for the big event.
Scarborough and Whitby MP, Sir Robert Goodwill, said: “I wish the very best of luck to the UTC students taking part in this very testing competition.
“The students are already a credit to Scarborough, having previously been crowned national champions - an extraordinary achievement in itself.
“They have demonstrated superb and consistent excellence in technical and engineering skills and in design and presentational talent, a brilliant reflection of the UTC.
“They will be heading to Silverstone with the best wishes for even more success.”
The trio had to create an aerodynamic F1 car on a 1/20th scale to race on a 20-metre track at more than 43mph.
They have made new adjustments to their vehicle, which is sponsored by the Scarborough Business Ambassadors, since being crowned UK winners.
In the rigorous judging process, they will be quizzed on detailed technical, financial and marketing presentations.
Preparing for the world finals at Silverstone
Missy, 18, who is Avidity Racing team principal and business manager, said: "It will be exciting, we feel confident.
"I've been part of the UTC's F1 in Schools project since it began in September 2018, learning technical skills, graphic design, marketing and working as a team, driving with purpose."
Missy, formerly of Pindar School, is aiming to take an MSc degree in Motorsport Engineering at Oxford Brookes University.
She won the top award last October for Girls on Track UK, a scheme to encourage more female students to consider careers in engineering and motorsport - earning a two-day visit to Croft Engineering at Middlesbrough, organised by FIA F1 and Excelr8 Motorsport.
Libby, 17, is the SBA Avidity Racing project manager and hopes to take an aerospace engineering management degree.
She said: "At the Silverstone final, I'm really looking forward to meeting all the other students from around the world and seeing the different ways of going about the same challenge.
"Collaborating as a team is great. I know it will help me in my future career. I've learned a lot about planning, time and finance management, and how to allocate materials and resource."
She added: "I came to the UTC at 14. It's great, so different. I got more attention and my grades improved."
Alex Jenkin, 18, formerly of Graham School, is the engineer in the team and will be undertaking an apprenticeship degree with the Ministry of Defence as a mechanical engineer.
"The college and the F1 project have been fantastic opportunities. I've been taught a wide range of hands-on technical skills that you don't get anywhere else," he said.
"I've also learned computer-based design and manufacturing and assembly."
Joining the trio in the four-day competition will be Rob Shephard, UTC Director of Engineering, who has worked with all the college's F1 in School students since joining five years ago.
"The students have had to work hard and long hours to achieve their successes. They are very focussed and we’re aiming for a podium finish."
Brian Crosby, chief executive of Coast and Vale Learning Trust which now includes Scarborough UTC in its alliance of schools, said: "We applaud the UTC's achievement as national F1 in Schools champions, and we are all rooting for even greater success at the world finals.
"The students are inspirational, a huge credit to Scarborough and its young people."
UTC principal Lee Kilgour said: "The successes of our various teams over the years in this tough competition has been fantastic.
"Seeing the students’ progress to an international level and with such high technical skills and maturity has been one of the highlights of my career. We are very proud of them all."
The SBA Avidity Racing also won the Best Engineered Car Award supported by Williams Racing, at last year's event.
The Silverstone results will be announced on Friday 15th July.