The F1 in Schools™ STEM Challenge was one of the stars of a world first Formula 1® event, F1 Live London, held in the heart of London, in the iconic Trafalgar Square. Featuring Formula 1 teams, drivers and cars, a host of stars and special guest music acts, as well as the F1 Schools and Innovation Showcase, the event was a fantastic opportunity for F1 in Schools to promote the benefits and opportunities offered to students through participation in this leading global educational initiative.
F1 in Schools headlined with Formula Student and Dare to be Different in the F1 Schools and Innovation Showcase area of the event, which aimed to promote the exciting opportunities and careers open to children of all ages interested in being the next generation of leaders who want to work in Formula 1.
The 20-metre F1 in Schools racetrack was a focal point for visitors to the event, with successful F1 in Schools teams, including the 2017 UK Champions, Academy Racing, talking to interested students about their experience and hopes for the F1 in Schools World Finals 2017 that are being held in Malaysia alongside the 2017 Formula One Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix.
Part of the F1 in Schools showcase in Trafalgar Square was the Design and Make Area, which featured live CAD/CAM demonstrations from Denford and Autodesk, and a chance for visitors to see how the miniature F1 in Schools cars are designed, manufactured and wind-tunnel tested. The F1 in Schools areas sat alongside a display of F1 teams cars, a photo podium, driver portrait speed painting, Pirelli Pit Stop Challenge, Dare to Be Different zone and Titan, the STEM robot.
The concept of F1 Live London was very ambitious, but it has been so well organised and has given so many people the chance to experience Formula 1 and what goes on around it.
The event also included one-hour stage shows that ran throughout the afternoon, and interviews with F1 in Schools Founder and Chairman, Andrew Denford, along with students from 2016 F1 in Schools UK Champions, Enigma UK.
The video from the 2016 World Finals was also shown before presenter, Sam Power, visited the F1 in Schools racetrack to meet Tiro Racing and Academy Racing students and watched them race. Co-presenter Natalie Pinkham from Sky Sports F1 also interviewed George Britton, a member of the victorious 2015 F1 in Schools World Champions team from USA, Union Racing International, who is now on a placement at Williams Racing, and Harvey Williams, another F1 in Schools alumnus, and currently an apprentice Engineer at Williams Racing. Throughout the day, numerous broadcast networks also interviewed the F1 in Schools students F1 in Schools stars at Formula 1® world first event ‘F1 Live London’
Andrew Denford said of the event, “Wow, what a fantastic day it has been for F1 in Schools. We never expected so many people to attend, there has been so much interest in what we do, how we’re involved with the sport and the opportunities that our students have to forge a career in Formula 1. The concept of F1 Live London was very ambitious, but it has been so well organised and has given so many people the chance to experience Formula 1 and what goes on around it. We’re very proud to have been part of the first-ever F1 Live event and have enjoyed sharing our STEM Challenge with all the visitors.”
All the action from the event can be viewed at www.youtube.com/formula1 and for more information about F1 in Schools visit www.f1inschools.com