Join us in creating future engineers

Design Challenge

The F1 in Schools Challenge is a competition, which increases the awareness and interest in engineering and technical careers in our young learners, and is officially sanctioned worldwide by Bernie Ecclestone of F1 racing.

The challenge is to design and manufacture compact, gas cylinder powered, model racing cars. It is open to all South African primary and secondary schools.

Teams of 3-6 members, aged between 11 and 18 years, will compete against each other at various levels, culminating in a National championship to determine the best engineers and fastest car in SA.

The South African winners will be entitled to compete at the world championship, which takes place in Birmingham, UK.

So what's involved?

To participate in the challenge and to benefit from the free software, schools need to register.

Where?

Once the registration fee has been received the schools will receive the Solid Edge (CAD) package and a copy of Quick CAM.

Once the software is installed the teacher and learners can follow the tutorials and, with the support of the College of Cape Town, they can learn to produce a 3D model of a racing car for their team.

Pupils are expected to manage the whole project from scratch, construct a Business Plan, secure sponsorship, as well as design and build the cars themselves. CAD software (computer aided design) and CFD (computational fluid dynamics) are used in the design process, the same used by Formula 1 designers, and the cars are manufactured on a CNC machine.

All teams must submit documentation supporting their cars, including 3D rendering of the final concept and orthographic projections of the car. To manufacture and race the cars, each team will have to find sponsors to provide the financing required.

Eventually, the miniature race cars will be timed over a 20 metre course.

Levels of this competition include:

• Schools
• Institutions
• Provincial
• National
• Internationally
  Prizes are not only awarded for the overall winner, prizes are also awarded to the winners by age group, fastest car, the best engineered car, and best team sponsorship and marketing.

Is it an officially backed project?

With fewer engineering graduates than ever before, the College of Cape Town is proud to become part of this project, to encourage budding F1 designers and mechanics to follow such a curriculum.

Formula One in Schools is supported by aficionados from the sport itself. Bernie Ecclestone has officially endorsed the scheme and ITV commentator James Allen is patron. Other such names include Ross Brawn (formerly of Ferrari), Sam Michaels (Williams) and Mike Gascoyne (formerly head of engineering at Toyota) have actively supported the scheme.

In South Africa, the challenge was introduced by Sangari.

Why it is a good initiative?

It allows young minds a unique chance to do something that is not traditionally available to them, whilst promoting the sport. It provides students a chance to promote their own technological skills, as well as inspire their creative and innovative traits, potentially launching their journey into Formula One.

The scheme is open to both boys and girls, with female students now making up 40% of all entrants, a proportion unmatched in modern day F1.

For more information please contact, Willem Amoraal at Thornton Campus via telephone on 021 531 9124 or email wamoraal@cct.edu.za