The Golden Geckos, a team of students from Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School, Brandon, Manitoba, celebrated after winning the Knockout Racing Award and receiving the Sepang International Circuit trophy at the 2011 F1 in Schools™ World Finals held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last week.
Ashley Scott, Brett Coey, Dustin Sparrow, Hewson Elliot, Kaylee McNamee and Tyler Enns formed The Golden Geckos to compete in F1 in Schools, a Formula 1™ linked technology challenge which tasks students with creating a miniature Formula 1 car. Winning through Regional Finals in their home country, they then won the Canada F1 in Schools title, to secure a place at the World Finals.
The Golden Geckos Team Manager, Ashley Scott, reflects on the competition, “It’s been a very special week and we’re on a high from the whole experience. We’ve experienced so many highs and lows, with the pressure of presenting in front of the judges, doing the racing and making sure we’ve done the best we can. Winning the knock-out racing was a fantastic feeling, although it was so tense in the final, we could hardly breathe. The atmosphere was brilliant and we’ve had the best time ever.”
Andrew Denford, Founder and Chairman, F1 in Schools , says of the team’s success, “This year’s F1 in Schools World Finals has been the most competitive in the history of the programme and all the teams have risen to the challenge admirably. The Golden Geckos proved that they are world beaters when it comes to racing head-to-head. They held their nerves to beat the Scottish team in the final runs and were deserving of their award. As ambassadors for their country and of F1 in Schools, they are excellent and demonstrate just how beneficial it can be to compete in the Challenge. I’m sure they will all go on to have further success in their careers ahead.”
The Australian team, Pentagliders, were crowned 2011 F1 in Schools World Champions at yesterday’s Awards Ceremony. They fought off intense competition, beating 22 teams from Australasia, Europe, Asia, Africa, America and the Middle East to take the title, the Bernie Ecclestone World Champions trophy and coveted Automotive and Motorsport Engineering degree scholarships at City University London.
Runner-up to the victorious Australian team were German National Champions, BETAGREEN, from Grootmoor Gymnasium, Hamburg. Last year’s World Champions, the USA team, UNITUS Racing from South East High School, Florida and James Madison Middle School, Virginia, took third place on the podium.
The event took place at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 19th – 21st September with the assistance of a host of sponsors and supporters including the Malaysian Ministry of Education, The Institution of Engineering and Technology, City University London, Denford Limited, Sepang International Circuit and Hilton Racing.
Each team of between three and six students brings together their work to present to a judging panel with a verbal and written presentation to support their model car, which is raced on a specially designed test track. At the World Finals each team takes along a pit display, three identical cars and portfolio, as well as having prepared a presentation for the judges. The cars race on a 20 metre track, with the cars covering the distance in just over one second, a speed barrier which is yet to be broken by any student team since it was set by Team FUGA from Northern Ireland at the 2007 World Finals with a time of 1.020 seconds.
FULL LIST OF AWARDS AND WINNERS
2011 F1 in Schools World Champions supported by City University London
WINNER Pentagliders, Brooks High School, Australia
Second placed Team Award supported by the Malaysian Ministry of Education
WINNER BETAGREEN, Grootmoor Gymnasium, Germany
Third placed Team Award supported by The Institution of Engineering and Technology
WINNER UNITUS Racing, South East High School and James Madison Middle School, USA
Best Engineered Car Award supported by Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
WINNER Pentagliders, Brooks High School, Australia
Collaboration Award supported by Team Lotus
WINNER Trident Racing, Sebastopol College and Raffles Girls’ School, Australia and Singapore
Fastest Car Award supported by Petronas Mercedes GP
WINNER Pentagliders, Brooks High School, Australia (run time: 1.084 seconds)
Verbal Presentation Award supported by Williams F1
WINNER Dynamic, St John Payne Catholic School, UK
Team Identity Award supported by Ferrari
WINNER Axis, Dubai College and Aminudin Baki Secondary School, UAE and Malaysia
Knock-out Racing Award supported by Sepang International Circuit
WINNER The Golden Geckos, Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School, Canada
Pit Display Award supported by Toro Rosso
WINNER Octane Racing, Dundalk Grammar School, Ireland
Outstanding Sportsmanship Award supported by Force India Formula One Team
WINNER Cyber Express F1 Team, Gymnázium J.K.Tyla, Czech Republic
Team Portfolio Award supported by F1 Racing Magazine
WINNER Velospeed SIC, Sekolah Menengah Sains Hulu Selangor, Malaysia
Sponsorship and Marketing Award supported by Marussia Virgin Racing
WINNER Fflam, Ysgol Botwnnog, Wales
Perseverance in the Face of Adversity Award supported by Red Bull Racing
WINNER Phoenix Team Kenya, St. Andrew’s School, Kenya
Best Research and Development Award supported by Pirelli
WINNER BETAGREEN, Grootmoor Gymnasium, Germany
Best Innovative Thinking Award supported by Lotus Renault GP
WINNER Team RedShift, Dubai College, UAE
Best Newcomer Award supported by Sauber F1 Team
WINNER Dresser Racing, Kongsberg High School, Norway
Best Team Website Award supported by Denford Ltd
WINNER Octane Racing, Dundalk Grammar School, Ireland
Photocaption: The Golden Geckos, Canada from left to right - Ashley Scott, Brett Coey, Dustin Sparrow, Hewson Elliot, Kaylee McNamee and Tyler Enns.