Winter Newsletter

F1 in Schools

D uring the past year a number Academy students have been engaged in the Internationally run F1 in Schools project. Looking to build on the link between the school and motor sport, as Kirkcudbright Academy is thought to be the only school in the world to have had 2 students going on to win races driving in Formula 1, David Coulthard and Innes Ireland.

F1 in Schools is the only truly global educational programme that raises awareness of STEM and Formula 1 among students and school children in every region, in every country, on every continent. The challenge inspires students to use IT to learn about physics, aerodynamics, design, manufacture, branding, graphics, sponsorship, marketing, leadership/teamwork, media skills and financial strategy, and apply them in a practical, imaginative, competitive and exciting way.

Students at the Academy entered 6 Teams, of between 3 and 6 members, into a school based competition that required them to Market, Design and Construct a model F1 Car which was then raced along a 25m track. The top 2 Entry Level Teams and 2 Development Teams then progressed to the Regional (Scottish) Finals, which were broadcast live in October this year.

Each Team had to develop a marketing strategy which required them to seek sponsorship for the running of the Team, design the race car using industrial standard CAD software, analyse the aerodynamics using both virtual and real time wind tunnels and manufacture the car using both 3D printing techniques and CNC Router, the cars were finally raced against each other, propelled by compressed air down the straight race track.

Following the live races for the Regional Finals, 2 of our teams received awards in specific categories, Galloway Engines were awarded the prize for Research and Development and Stewartry Racers were awarded the ‘Best Engineered Car’ for their category. The Academy and students would like to thank all those involved in providing support, through sponsorship and financial donations: Digital Extra and Solway Community Partnership who provided the funding for the equipment required to run the competition.

David Coulthard, Kirkcudbright Rotary, Paul Tebay, Selkirk Arms Hotel, William Paul Motor Engineering, W.C. in Field, MW Engineering & Manufacturing, Gallovidia Books, Pleat, Amalgam Collection, Station House Cookery School, Lipton-Chaney Architects for their sponsorship of individual Teams.