Young Hartlepool engineers hit top gear with car building project

St Joseph's RC Primary School pupils with science co-ordinator Tracy O'shea and the car their electric car. Picture by Frank Reid

Pupils from St Joseph’s RC Primary School excelled on the track at Croft race circuit, in North Yorkshire.

The 10 and 11-year-olds spent weeks building the IET Formula Goblin kit car they named Phoenix in a project designed to inspire young people to excel in science, technology, engineering and maths.

St Joseph's RC Primary School pupils (left to right) Mia, Kyle and Macie.

They won the award for Best Presented Car as well as coming second in a drag race and third in the sprint race.

A school spokesman said: “It was an amazing day with the fantastic weather.

“The enthusiasm and excitement was contagious.”

Thirteen pupils got behind the wheel cheered on by all of their classmates.

The car that was designed built by pupils at St. Josephs Primary School, Hartlepool. Picture by Frank Reid

The school added: “Many of those racing were nervous, but with the fantastic support of their teammates they produced some fast times and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

“The biggest surprise of the day was to find out that we were the overall winners.

“All the weeks of hard work, building, designing and painting the car and the practice races was worth it.”

In all, 24 teams raced on the day which saw numerous prizes awarded.

The project was run by the Greenpower Education Trust and engineers from the Cummins engine-maker in Darlington visited the school to help the children build the car.

Cleveland Scientific Institute also provided funds to help them to buy crash helmets, overalls and gloves.

Fresh from their success, the team were back in action again racing the car against 39 teams from the North East at a big exhibition in Newcastle.

This time they won a trophy in the slalom race.

Now the races are complete, the car has been dismantled ready to be built again by another group of children next year.

St Joseph’s thanked the Cleveland Scientific Institute, Greenpower Education Trust, Cummins and members of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers for their financial support.