Colaiste na Mí race aces in pole position for F1 STEM challenge
Tensions are running high in Coláiste na Mí, Johnstown, as two teams, Taranis Racing and Black Widow Racing, get set to compete in the F1 in Schools competition.
The F1 in Schools competition, is a global STEM challenge that encourages students to further their skills in science, technology, engineering and maths by designing and building a scaled 1:20 formula one car. Teams also develop their knowledge of business and enterprise as they source sponsorship and funding to make their design come to fruition.
Taking place in over 40 countries worldwide, there are three stages - the regional final, the national final, and the international final where the top three teams from each country will battle it out. The international competition is held in one of the hosting F1 Grand Prix countries each year. The team in fourth place in each country also gets to compete becoming an international collaboration partner who will join forces with another fourth place team from a different country.
Coláiste na Mí has recently become heavily involved in the F1 in schools competition, led by teacher Cian Gillic. Indeed, their entry last year placed second for speed but unfortunately placed 30th overall due to problems with their portfolio.
This year Coláiste na Mí’s two teams are determined to compete at a higher level in terms of the design of their car, promoting their brand and negotiating sponsorship and are also learning from past students experiences.
All transition year students, Taranis Racing is made up of Arthur Murray, Kaan Demiroz, Ryan Keenan, Oisin Reidy, and Conor Browne, while Charley Reynolds, Aaron Clarke, Scott Hayes, Corey Byrne make up Black Widow Racing.
So far, the teams have received generous sponsorship from local companies such as Slanetrac, Credit Union Plus, Stonewall Coffee, Further Learning group and Slimming World. Both teams are still eager to negotiate more sponsorship deals.
Their teacher Cian Gillic explained that significant purchases have been made within the school to help the students develop the design of their cars to ensure that they are ready to perform in the competition, including an F1 race control system, which enables teams to test and improve their design concepts.
The aim is to build a scaled 1:20 model formula 1 car which is propelled at 100kmph down a 20m track by a Co2 gas canister. Two cars race against each other at the same time and the quickest through the finish gate wins. For the students to achieve this speed and finish, first they must design an exceptionally aerodynamic car body and accompany the aerodynamic body with high-performing 3D printed wheels and wings.
"The students must learn the very same principles as actual formula one car designers and arrange their own means of machining their car body design and additional components," explained Cian.
For this the students require money to pay companies for machining the car components. All this money must be obtained by the means of negotiating sponsorship or fundraising. So, the students must develop enterprise and business skills to engage in this process effectively. The teams must also create a team name and promote their brand via logos, uniforms, merchandise, and promotional activities.
Ryan Keenan of Taranis Racing outlined how they learned lots of new skills. He said: “For me, the main reason I got involved in the competition is because I thought it would be a great chance to learn to work as a team. Our team is optimistic of our chances going into the regional rounds next spring."
Charley Reynolds of Black Widow Racing described the project as "joyful, interesting and challenging".
Charley said the competition exposed the students to experiences they wouldn't otherwise have. He said: "F1 in schools is an exceptional initiative which gives students exposure to experiences they would not usually get during the normal school year. I have witnessed already this year students finding out new skills and talents that they thought they never had before.”