ENGLAND F1 IN SCHOOLS WORLD FINALS TEAM CLAIM NEW WORLD RECORD F1 ve školách, F1, formule 1, konstrukce, monopost

ENGLAND F1 IN SCHOOLS WORLD FINALS TEAM CLAIM NEW WORLD RECORD

Alison Hill/ F1 in Schools | 16.11.14 | Aktuálně F1 ve školách

F1 ve školách

Colossus F1, an F1 in Schools team representing England at the 2014 F1 in Schools World Finals this week in Abu Dhabi have claimed a new world record with the team’s car sprinting along the F1 in Schools 20 metre race track in a time of 1.003 seconds, shaving nearly two-hundredths of a second off the previous record, 1.020 seconds, held for seven years by Northern Irish team, TEAM FUGA.

The record-breaking run was not without controversy. Just as in the sport of F1, the team were challenged for pushing the boundaries of the regulations, with the fastest of the team’s runs using an air cushion device at the start gate, an innovation designed by Colossus F1 to minimize air loss when the car was released. The team, however, believe that another of their ground breaking innovations, a unique water tunnel test programme, also gave them the edge which produced the world record time.

Vicky Waterfield, Team Manager of Colossus F1 said of making F1 in Schools history, “We’re absolutely ecstatic. We’ve worked so hard to get to this point and we’re just so happy with the result. We haven’t been able to do much track testing, but our water tunnel testing, which no other F1 in Schools tests has ever done before has certainly paid off. The air cushion is something we came up with to minimize the loss of airflow when the car is ‘fired’ down the track.”

Of Colossus F1’s achievement, Andrew Denford, Founder and Chairman of F1 in Schools said, “Record’s are there to be broken and the world record had stood for seven years. The innovations that Colossus F1 have introduced to their car have paid off and produced a very quick car. Our congratulations go to the team for their great effort. Of course, more teams will be making runs tomorrow, so who knows how long the record will stand!”

The opening ceremony of this year’s event, being held at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, preceded the first day of judging in this global educational initiative, with the 38 teams in the spotlight for the first of two days of intense scrutiny with verbal presentations, pit display and portfolio assessments and plenty of high speed action in the racing time trials. Celebrating ten years of international F1 in Schools competition, the event was opened by Al Tareq Al Ameri, Chief Executive Officer of Yas Marina Circuit. Just under four hours later Colossus F1 broke the world record.

Andrew Denford, Founder and Chairman of F1 in Schools, said to the teams at the opening ceremony, “You’ve all done exceptionally well to be here and I know you’re going to have a great time. Looking around at the pit displays I can see that you’ve raised the bar, taking the professionalism and quality of the presentations to another level as well as designing cars with cutting edge technology and innovative features. It’s amazing; the best we’ve ever seen.”

Andrew also highlighted the opportunities presented to the students that the World Finals brings, adding, “The world of Formula 1 is starting to arrive in the paddock and all eyes in F1 are on Abu Dhabi. We’ll be hosting many guests and VIPs from F1 over the course of the competition and this is your showcase, so make the most of it. Build the contacts, exchange business cards and put yourself in pole position for a career in Formula 1.”

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is a fitting backdrop to the Formula 1 linked competition, with students being given the chance to experience the rides and attractions of the venue between judging sessions. A photo of the day competition for the students yesterday produced two stunning photographs and for the winners, rides on the front row of the fastest roller coaster in the world, Formula Rossa. Tyler Johnson from USA team, Affinity F1Racing and Madelyn Kumar from Slipstream, another USA team, were given the ultimate thrill just ahead of the start of the competition.

The F1 in Schools World Finals 2014 continues tomorrow with a full day of judging, racing and theme park fun for the students. The culmination of the event on Wednesday will be an awards celebration dinner attended by personalities from the pitlane and the crowning of the 2014 F1 in Schools World Champions.

The F1 in Schools World Finals 2014 take place with the assistance of a host of sponsors and supporters including Yas Marina Circuit, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, The Institution of Engineering and Technology, Autodesk, City University London, Etihad Airways, Tourism and Cultural Authority Abu Dhabi, Yas Island.AE and Radisson Blu Hotel.

About F1 in Schools

F1 in Schools challenges students to create their own Formula One team which is commissioned to design, construct and race the fastest miniature Formula One Car of the Future; a 21cm long scale model built from a block of balsa wood and powered by a compressed air cylinder. Each team of between three and six students creates a ‘pit’ display and showcases their work in developing their race car. At the World Finals each team will bring along a pit display, their cars and portfolio, as well as having prepared a verbal presentation for the judges. The cars race on a 20 metre track, with the cars covering the distance in just over one second, a speed barrier which is yet to be broken by any student team since it was set by Team FUGA from Northern Ireland at the 2007 World Finals with a time of 1.020 seconds.

F1 in Schools aims to help change perceptions of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) by creating a fun and exciting learning environment for young people to develop an informed view about careers in engineering, Formula One, Science, marketing and technology.