Unity Racing – Tenth in the World!

The Schools’ Aerospace Careers Programme is delighted to announce that Unity Racing from Scarborough UTC, a member of the ACP Network, having been placed 1st in their Regional Finals and then 2nd in the UK Finals (becoming the English Champions) went on to be placed 10th overall out of a field of 55 teams in the ‘F1 in Schools Competition’ World Finals held this year in Saudi Arabia and sponsored by Aramco. In doing so they won both the Best Pit Display and Digital Media Awards.

Our heartiest congratulations go to Ryan Gharib (Project & Media Manager), Jack Metcalf (Design Engineer), Billy Fields (Technical Specialist) and Matiss Gribuska (Enterprise Manager & Graphic Designer).

F1 in Schools is the world’s largest STEM competition. Spanning age ranges of 9 to 19, the main objective is to help change the perceptions of science, technology, engineering and maths by creating a fun and exciting learning environment for young people and help them develop an informed view about careers in engineering, science, marketing and technology. The competition is currently operational in over 60 countries; it is held annually with Regional and National Finals. The overall winners of the National Finals are invited to compete at the World Finals, which are held at a different location each year, often in conjunction with a Formula One Grand Prix. For secondary school age there are 3 classes of entry: Professional Class aimed at 11 to 19-year-olds; Development Class aimed at 11 to 19-year-olds in their first year; and Entry Class aimed at 11 to 14-year-olds. Unity was entered in the Professional Class.

Like all teams, using CAD/CAM and CAE tools, Unity Racing were required to design, test and build their own 1/20th scale formula 1 car, and then race it down a two-lane 20 meter track in drag car racing fashion. The cars are powered by CO2 cartridges and are attached to the track by a nylon wire. They are timed by a computer from the moment they are launched to when they pass the finish line. The cars have to comply with extensive regulations.

Competition points are awarded as follows:

• Car Performance: the speed and performance of the car in the race; this includes the time it takes to complete the track and any penalties incurred.
• Engineering: the design and construction of the car, including innovation, use of materials, and adherence to specifications.
• Presentation: before a panel of judges, points are awarded for the quality of the presentation, including the clarity of the explanation, the professionalism of the team, and the visual aids used.
• Portfolio: teams submit a portfolio documenting their project; points are awarded for the thoroughness and quality of the documentation, including the design process, testing, and analysis.
• Teamwork: how well the team works together, including communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Marketing and Sponsorship: including creativity, effectiveness, and professionalism.

Each of these categories contributes to the overall score, and the team with the highest total points is declared the winner.