Munster Express Online

St. Pauls team participated in the Honda f1 in Schools Technology Challenge Qualified for the National finals which will be held in Dublin on 29th April. Team Kestrel beat off stiff competition in the regional Finals which were held in Cork IT on Tuesday 2nd March, Members of the team; Eoin Sheridan, Dean Lavin, Conor Reidy, Dale Kervick, John Long and Glenn Condon were required to make an aerodynamic model f1 car which which was raced against other participating schools in the East and West coast regional finals on Tuesday Last and national final in Dublin in March. The f1 in Schools Challenge is an international competition which now attracts more than 45,000 students across the world in a frenzied dash to design, build and ultimately race a CO2 powered model formula 1 car.

Each car measures about 25cms long. Student teams will complete against each other in a national championship to determine the best-engineered and fastest car in Ireland.

The winning car will be judged on speed, design and the school team’s full project presentation. The overall winning team at the International finals receive stunning prizes, including The Ecclestone Trophy and a three year full scholarship to study Motorsport and Automotive Engineering at City University London. This year’s winning team from Ireland will go to the international finals in 2012, at a location yet to be decided.

The exciting competition will expose students to 3D modelling, virtual wind tunnels, graphic design, Project management, fund raising, computer-aided manufacturing, sponsorship and team work. The challenge was originally developed in the UK six years ago and has spread to schools in 21 different countries including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong, Korea, Portugal, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, UAE and the USA.

Dean Lavin the team manager explains why they chose to enter the Honda f1 in schools challenge: We have always wanted to be in the challenge after seeing our team last year. All of us got together and we made a team. We are very happy that we have signed up in this fantastic challenge and we all come together as a team very well. We are delighted to be representing the South region in the Formula 1 in schools Challenge and Hope we can go all the Way.”

Each participating school team will receive a kit which includes balsa for making the model. Support will be offered and the school will be paired with a formula 1 make centre.

For more information on the f1 challenge visit http://stpaulsf1.go2.ie