They’re the awesome foursome who keep impressing with their engineering skills. Now they have the world’s attention.
Engadine High School’s team Fast Payce are wildcard entrants in this year’s F1 in Schools competition, held in October in Texas.
They are former state champions and were runners-up in the open national titles in March this year.
Based on their outstanding performances – including fastest car, the students will compete in the global championship, and are raising funds with the support of sponsors PAYCE, to help them get there.
The students are Sutherland Shire’s third team to represent Australia in five years.
The year 10 team includes Blake Williams (team manager), Lukas Foyle (graphic designer), James Mitreski (design engineer) and Sean Sultana (manufacturing engineering).
The challenge is open to high school students in countries around the world.
Teams design and build a small scale F1 racing car from a block of balsa wood and fine-tune their designs with spoilers and winglets created through 3D printers.
The CO2 gas cylinder powered cars can reach speeds up to 80 kilometres an hour and are timed to one-thousand of a second as they travel in pairs down a 20 metre two-lane track.
Engadine High School’s former principal, Joanne Jarvis, says the team impressed judges and competition organisers.
“It has been a major investment for the school to buy the necessary specialised equipment and to modify rooms since deciding to become involved in the F1 in Schools Challenge at its inception,” she said.
“But it has all been worthwhile with a heightened interest in maths, engineering, science, technology and innovation.
“Engadine High teams finished fourth and fifth respectively in Abu Dhabi in 2012 and Austin in 2013, so we will be hoping for third time lucky and a podium result for our team this year.”
The team’s mentor, Ray Treloar, says the team has been busy modifying and testing its car for more efficiency and speed as they prepare to take on the world.
“We expect the competition to be tough and we won’t know how we measure up to the rest of the international teams until race day, but the latest tests indicate we are in the ball park of world record times in car speed,” he said.
As part of the international rules, the boys also had to develop an overall fresh look and come up with new graphic designs and presentation material.
The F1 in Schools Challenge world titles are timed to coincide with a round of the Formula One championship.
This year the titles precede the US Grand Prix held at the Circuit of Americas track near Austin.
All teams will spend time at the track during practice sessions and will visit the team garages along pit lane.
The winning team will be rewarded the Bernie Ecclestone trophy, presented by the Formula One chief executive officer.
