Bloxham pupils take the chequered flag to launch massive motor sport show

Bloxham pupils take the chequered flag to launch massive motor sport show.

22 December 2006

Pupils from a Banbury school turned motor racing pit-crew for the day to help launch Europe’s largest touring engineering and technology event for schools, Faraday 2007, by taking part in a “Pit-Stop Challenge” at the home of Williams F1.

The Faraday is organised annually by the IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology). The event focuses on a different topic each year and presents the Science, Engineering and Technology behind it via an exciting interactive live stage show. For 2007 the theme is motor sport and the event title is “Winning Formula, Technology in the Fast Lane.”

To launch the event students from Bloxham School in Banbury lined up alongside the four young engineers, who will present Faraday 2007, to compete in the “Pit-Stop Challenge” which recreates the drama and excitement of an F1 pit-stop. The challenge helps demonstrates the team work and skills which keep a race team on the track.

Jan Stapleton, head of the IET’s education team who organise the Faraday event said: “The aim of Faraday 2007 is to generate greater enthusiasm for and interest in science, technology, engineering and maths subjects and to demonstrate the potential of engineering as a worthwhile and exciting career choice.”

“In collaboration with Williams, the pupils not only experienced what it’s like to be part of a team but heard at first hand about the engineering skills needed by some of these organisations,” she added.

Chris Newbould, Head of Physics, Bloxham School, Banbury, said: “We’ve attended the Faraday in the past and so were delighted to be asked to be part of the Faraday 2007 launch at Williams F1. This is such a lively and visual way to show our students how physics is applied in everyday situations and how this science is vital to the success of all motor racing teams”.

“Pupils are able to see that through the F1 car there is a perfect example of how engineers from many different disciplines are able to come together to work as a team and create a vehicle at the cutting edge of technology. It reminds them of the many opportunities open to Material Scientists, Design Engineers, Mechanical and Electronic Engineers. I hope that seeing the end result of such work will excite and motivate them to find out more,” he added.

Patrick Head, Head of Engineering, Williams said: “Williams F1 is delighted to support Faraday 07 and the work it does to promote science, engineering and technology in schools. At the heart of every motor sport team are the people who design, build and maintain the cars and it is important that we encourage the next generation of engineers and technicians.

Faraday 2007 kicks off its UK tour of 10 venues in January and runs through to March before moving on to Hong Kong, Singapore Malaysia and China. The show is also webcast globally by the IET. The events are free to attend and there are three shows per day at each venue. Further details can be found at www.faraday.org.uk

The four presenters are:

Kate Quilton, age 23 from Bristol

Luke Dunwoody, age 25 from Portsmouth

Mark Byass from, age 20 from Crewe

Elaine Wright from, age 25 from Crewe

Organisations supporting Faraday are:

Renault F1

Altran Engineering

Williams F1

Bentley

Cranfield University

Denford Engineering

EADS

Xtrac

Land Rover

Prodrive

Mercedes McLaren

MTS

Learning Grid

DuPont

Gould Engineering

Formula 1 Schools

Control Techniques

MBD

Tony Henderson/Jenny Bond/Sian Weaver
Media and PR
T: 020 7344 8403/5445/5443

M: 07974 457565
E: publicrelations@theiet.org