Wilmslow High School races into national final of F1 design challenge with help from Jones Homes

Students at Wilmslow High School are loving life in the fast lane after qualifying for the national finals of a motor racing design competition.

The A-level pupils entered the Lenovo F1 in Schools challenge by designing and constructing their own mini F1 racing car, supported by ongoing sponsorship from local developer Jones Homes.

The housebuilder, which is building new homes in the town, has donated £450 to support the students in the professional class of the competition. The team – called Exhausted Racing – took part in the North West regional final at Bolton University on Tuesday 30 January and will now go forward to the national finals in March.

Last year, when the students were competing in the development class, Jones Homes covered their entry fees for the regional competition and donated £250 towards their expenses for the national finals.

Simon Whalley, Sales Director at Jones Homes North West, which is based in Alderley Edge, said: “The dedication, ingenuity and enthusiasm that these teenage students bring to the table when preparing for and competing in this challenge is truly inspirational.  This competition is a fantastic way for students to learn Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) related subjects through a connection with the exciting adrenaline-fuelled world of F1.

“It was a pleasure to continue our support and sponsorship of Exhausted Racing, who showed what they have to offer by finishing an impressive fifth out of 33 teams representing England, Scotland and Wales last year. We now wish them the best for when they take part in the national finals later this year.”

As part of the project, the teams design their vehicle with CAD (Computer Aided Design) software, then analyse, make, and test their vehicle. Students are encouraged to collaborate with industry experts and make links with businesses, raising sponsorship and developing a budget.

Student Jack Shaw, project manager for Exhausted Racing, said: “We are proud to announce that we took home the first-place trophy for the regional finals and will be progressing to the national finals that will take place in Rotherham in early March.

“We have also had the opportunity to mentor some of the younger teams from our school who took home first place in the entry class and third place in the development class. As well as this as a school we were awarded the pit display award, sponsorship and marketing award and the best engineered car for our entry class team.

“We would like to thank Jones Homes for their sponsorship and support throughout our racing journey and we look forward to working with the company again in the future.”

Jones Homes is building homes at its developments nearby in Bollin Park, Sunfield, Sanctuary Court, Sanctuary Wilmslow and Bollin View, which is coming soon. For more information about Jones Homes, visit jones-homes.co.uk.

To find out more about the Lenovo F1 in Schools competition, visit f1inschools.co.uk.