YOUNG Islanders have been offered a chance to use their skills to design a small-scale Formula One racing car which could eventually compete on the global stage.
The F1 in Schools initiative has been launched by Digital Jersey and Skills Jersey, with 18 teams from Island secondary schools taking part.
Students will be tasked with creating, designing, marketing and racing a small-scale F1 car, powered by a CO2 canister, on a specially constructed track.
The programme is designed to give participants the opportunity to develop their teamwork, marketing, project management, and science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills within an F1 context.
Digital Jersey has become the Channel Islands’ “Centre of Excellence” for F1 in Schools, and will hold monthly sessions with the teams and provide access to specialist kit, including computer-aided design software.
The final designs will compete against each other in a regional Jersey contest early next year, with the winner going through to the national UK finals and potentially the F1 in Schools world finals later in 2025. The last global event took place in Singapore and featured 68 teams competing over three days.
Digital Jersey chief executive Tony Moretta said: “This is such an exciting project that will truly engage local students and enable them to develop their STEM skills, as well as their broader marketing, communication, project management and teamwork expertise – all against the backdrop of F1.”
Dave Roworth, senior adviser at Skills Jersey, added: “F1 in Schools is a programme that can really help develop our young people and harness their imagination and creativity, in a fun but challenging way – we’re looking forward to seeing the car designs of all those taking part over the coming months.”
