Schools Formula 1: Race pupils motor into UK finals

Craigroyston, along with Aberdeen Grammar, will now represent Scotland at the UK Finals at the Big Bang Fair, ExCel, London on 15-16 March.

The ultimate reward is a place on the grid at the F1 in Schools World Finals 2013 to be held in Austin, Texas.

Alison Hill, from F1 in Schools, explained: “The teams were given a block of balsa wood and had to design, manufacture and then test and race an F1 car.”

Cforce was the name of the Craigroyston Community High School team – Tommy Paget, (CAD engineer and team captain), Joe Dudgeon, (aerodynamics and business), Stephen Ramsay (graphics design), Gavin Singleton, (aerodynamics and graphics) and Ciaran Harrison (business and uniform design)

“It’s not quite sunk in yet, I’m shaking as my nerves have taken over,” said Paget after the winners were announced.

“It’s our second year of competing in F1 in Schools and we’re pleased to have got through to the national finals.

“We’ll modify our car for the next round, particularly with the wheels, as we need our car to be faster.

“It’s an amazing competition and we’re really enjoying creating our own car and racing it.”

In addition to representing their country at the world finals, the F1 in Schools UK Champions and runners up will receive tickets to the 2013 F1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

The national champions will also win a Red Bull Racing F1 team factory tour and a TW steel watch.

Andrew Denford, founder and chairman of F1 in Schools, said of last week’s Scottish finals: “We’re experiencing significant growth in the schools entering the challenge this season and the standards are extremely high.

“The challenge not only tests the students in many key areas of educational study, but gives them an opportunity to gain experience of many life skills which will be invaluable in their future careers.”