Three countries share the first spoils at F1 in Schools World Finals 2017
Alison Hill / F1 in Schools | 25.9.17 | Aktuálně F1 ve školách
F1 in scholls 2017
Three countries share the first spoils at F1 in Schools World Finals 2017
Ireland, Australia and Germany took the first spoils at the F1 in Schools World Finals 2017 in the opening day of the competition, being held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The event was formally opened by Dr.Mehander Singh, Director of Sports Division, Ministry of Education Malaysia.
The first day of this year’s World Finals started with a ‘flag-off’ F1 in Schools race with Dr. Mehander Singh experiencing the pressure of racing, being pitted against Vicki Treadell, British High Commissioner. Students then began the intensive judging sessions with the 51 teams, representing 27 countries, under the scrutiny of the experienced panel of judges, all vying to claim the title F1 in Schools World Champions 2017.
Dr Mehander Singh praised the value of the F1 in Schools programme in education, saying, “As we move in a more global and competitive economy STEM education has become increasingly important in helping students develop their critical thinking problem solving, creative solutions and collaborative skills. There is no doubt in my mind that programmes like F1 in Schools can play a major role in changing perceptions to ICT, Engineering, sciences, mathematics and technology and that investing in STEM is to invest in the future. We believe that the implementation of the F1 in Schools curriculum in our local schools can help our students to think outside of the box and increase their interest in STEM learning.
Victorum Racing from Ireland claimed the fastest car time of the day, with their F1 in Schools car powering down the F1 in Schools race track in a time of 1.095 seconds. Aurora, a Germany-Australia collaboration team had the fastest race time of the day with a combined car and reaction time of 1.241 seconds.
The World Finals continues tomorrow with more judging sessions, followed by the exciting Knock Out racing finale on Tuesday. The World Champions will be crowned on Wednesday evening by Formula 1 CEO, Chase Carey, at the Awards Celebration Gala Dinner, with a total of 23 awards to be presented to category winners.
Andrew Denford, Founder and Chairman, F1 in Schools said of the opening day of the World Finals, “It’s been a privilege for us to be joined by Dr.Singh today and to have the support of the Malaysia Ministry of Education for F1 in Schools. We are so proud of the students’ quality of work, raising the bar with some fantastic pit displays, backed up with passion and dedication to their designs and a keenness to share the culture of their home countries. It’s great to see a collaboration team setting the pace in the first round of racing and Ireland drawing first blood with the 1.095 seconds time set by Victorum Racing. We’ll see if that is this year’s fastest time, but there is plenty more racing to come.”
The competition continues today with more judging sessions and another round of racing. It concludes on Tuesday with the Autodesk Pressure Challenge, Randstad Williams Engineering Academy assessment and the exciting Knockout Racing.
F1 in Schools challenges students to create their own Formula 1 team which is commissioned to design, construct and race the fastest miniature Formula 1 Car of the Future; a 21cm long scale model built from the F1 in Schools model block and powered by a compressed air cylinder. At the World Finals each team brings along a pit display, their cars and a written 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 around one second.
The 2017 World Finals is being held from 24th to 27th September with three days of intense competition. After all their hard work the students will be rewarded with a trip to Sepang International Circuit on Thursday for a pit lane walk and the opportunity to attend the 2017 FORMULA 1 PETRONAS MALAYSIA GRAND PRIX.
The F1 in Schools World Finals 2017 takes place with the support of a host of sponsors including Formula One Management, Denford Ltd, The Institution of Engineering and Technology, Autodesk, FIA Women in Motor Sport Commission, City University London, UCL Engineering, Sepang International Circuit and DHL.