Scarborough UTC third in F1 world finals

The result was announced at Silverstone

Author: Jon BurkePublished 15th Jul 2022
Last updated 15th Jul 2022

A team of students from Scarborough has come third in the world in an F1 in Schools final.

The trio from Scarborough UTC won the UK National Champions title last Autumn, and faced 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.

Missy McArdle, Libby Atkin and Alex Jenkin were applauded for their “excellent understanding and professional skills” as they collected the trophy for best project management.

They made it a hat-trick of honours – awarded the accolade of overall Third Place in the world from the four-day event and were also runners-up in the Pit Display Award.

The trio faced tough competition 2022 Aramco finals from hundreds of students in 52 teams from 23 countries including America, Australia, Canada China, India, Greece, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Brazil, as well as Ireland, Scotland, Wales and two other English teams.

The result was announced at Silverstone yesterday.

They were tested on their engineering skills in creating an air-propelled miniature racing car and on their management, financial and marketing strategy.

Ashley Dalton Forsyth, of the Project Management Institute Education Foundation in making the presentation for the Best Application of Project Management, said: "The team produced outstanding work, with an amazing portfolio of professional quality. They have learned skills for life."

Missy, 18, Libby, 17 and Alex, 18, attended the event with Rob Shephard, UTC Director of Engineering.

They said: "We are immensely proud.

“The journey and development throughout our time at the UTC and in F1 in Schools has been immeasurable and breath-taking.

"Being awarded the Project Management Award, nominated for Best Pit Display and to be announced third in the world just tops it off for us."

UTC principal Lee Kilgour said: “The Scarborough UTC community is so proud of the SBA Avidity Racing F1 in Schools Team.

“For Missy, Alec and Libby and our Director of Engineering Rob Shephard, this is an amazing award which reflects their dedication, hard work, long hours and their incredible talent.

“Above all this is a tremendous testament to the power of a University Technical College education.

Peter Wilkinson, a driving force in the creation of the UTC and immediate past chairman of trustees and newly-retired chairman of the Scarborough Business Ambassadors, said: “I am overwhelmed at their triumphs on the world stage.

“The Ambassadors supported the college and its F1 in Schools teams from day one and we are extremely proud of what has been achieved.”

The trio had to create a sustainable, aerodynamic F1 car on a 1/20th scale to race on a 20-metre track in just over one second.

At Silverstone, a team from Australia were judged the overall winners.

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