Greenpower’s F24 is a good way to teach children aged 11-16 about creating and racing your very own single seater electric motor car.
Each race is held on some of the UK’s top motor car circuits. Greenpower helps to engage 11–16-year-olds in STEM subjects as well as involving them in the designing, building and racing of the cars.
Anyone may take part, though it is heavily aimed towards schools and student teams.
There are two variants of cars, scratch builds, cars that have been completely created from scratch by the team, or kit builds, cars that have been made with a provided chassis and added onto by the team.
I recently had the pleasure to attend a Greenpower F24 race held at Hethel Lotus racetrack.
This event had around 30 schools in attendance, one of the smaller races, There are two races for the 11-16 category (as well as a race called F24+ for older groups) each race taking 90 minutes.
In each race a minimum of 3 drivers is needed, with one crew member in the pits at all times.
There is a practise run at the start of the day after each car passes scrutineering and attends the briefing.
I attended as a driver and pit-stop crew for Norwich school, being our second ever race it was safe to say there was a buzz of excitement among the crew.
After passing Scrutineering we set off for the practise round. The day was filled with friendly competition between rival schools and strategic planning for the races.
Several schools from Norfolk took part, these were Langley Senior School, Town Close School, Framlingham Earl High School, Ormiston Victory Academy, Norwich High School for girls, Norwich School, Gresham’s Prep, Taverham high school, Aldermen Peel High School and Stalham High School.
The first and second races were won by The Weald School with a total of 20 Laps in 1hour 30minutes in both races.
The event was filled with elated crews, food vans with the best crepes and high spirits all around, I look forward to attending the next race as soon as possible.
