It was deja-vu for Dynamic, the student team from St John Payne Catholic School in Chelmsford, who were representing the UK in the 2011 F1 in Schools™ World Finals held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this week. It was the second time that the team had won through to the World Finals after winning the National Finals, and at this year’s event they repeated their success of the first visit in 2010, winning the Best Verbal Presentation Award for the second time and taking fourth place overall for a second time.

“We’re happy to have done so well this year,” said Emily Latham, Team Manager, Dynamic. “We always knew it would be difficult to build on our success last year and we had worked really hard to improve every aspect of our entry, but so had all the other teams! I think it has been a real achievement to have been so consistent and to be one of the top teams in the world, so we’ll be celebrating our success tonight.”

Dynamic, a team of two girls and three boys, all aged 18 years, have been involved in the programme for over three years, winning the UK National Champions title for the last two years and competing at the World Finals events in Singapore last year and Malaysia this year.

Andrew Denford, Founder and Chairman, F1 in Schools , says of the team’s success, “This year’s F1 in Schools World Finals has been the most competitive in the history of the programme. The top teams were just a few marks apart, and I think Dynamic should be very proud of the success they have achieved. As ambassadors for their country and of F1 in Schools, they are excellent and demonstrate just how beneficial it can be to compete in the Challenge. I’m sure they will all go on to have further success in their careers ahead.”

The Australian team, Pentagliders, were crowned 2011 F1 in Schools World Champions at yesterday’s Awards Ceremony. They fought off intense competition, beating 22 teams from Australasia, Europe, Asia, Africa, America and the Middle East to take the title, the Bernie Ecclestone World Champions trophy and coveted Automotive and Motorsport Engineering degree scholarships at City University London.

Runner-up to the victorious Australian team were German National Champions, BETAGREEN, from Grootmoor Gymnasium, Hamburg. Last year’s World Champions, the USA team, UNITUS Racing from South East High School, Florida and James Madison Middle School, Virginia, took third place on the podium.

The event took place at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 19th – 21st September with the assistance of a host of sponsors and supporters including the Malaysian Ministry of Education, The Institution of Engineering and Technology, City University London, Denford Limited, Sepang International Circuit and Hilton Racing.

Each team of between three and six students brings together their work to present to a judging panel with a verbal and written presentation to support their model car, which is raced on a specially designed test track. At the World Finals each team takes along a pit display, three identical cars and portfolio, as well as having prepared a presentation for the judges. The cars race on a 20 metre track, with the cars covering the distance in just over one second, a speed barrier which is yet to be broken by any student team since it was set by Team FUGA from Northern Ireland at the 2007 World Finals with a time of 1.020 seconds.

2011 F1 in Schools World Champions supported by City University London

WINNER               Pentagliders, Brooks High School, Australia

Second placed Team Award supported by the Malaysian Ministry of Education

WINNER               BETAGREEN, Grootmoor Gymnasium, Germany

Third placed Team Award supported by The Institution of Engineering and Technology

WINNER               UNITUS Racing, South East High School and James Madison Middle School, USA

Best Engineered Car Award supported by Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

WINNER               Pentagliders, Brooks High School, Australia

Collaboration Award supported by Team Lotus

WINNER               Trident Racing, Sebastopol College and Raffles Girls’ School, Australia and Singapore

Fastest Car Award supported by Petronas Mercedes GP

WINNER               Pentagliders, Brooks High School, Australia (run time: 1.084 seconds)

Verbal Presentation Award supported by Williams F1

WINNER               Dynamic, St John Payne Catholic School, UK

Team Identity Award supported by Ferrari

WINNER               Axis, Dubai College and Aminudin Baki Secondary School, UAE and Malaysia

Knock-out Racing Award supported by Sepang International Circuit

WINNER               The Golden Geckos, Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School, Canada

Pit Display Award supported by Toro Rosso

WINNER               Octane Racing, Dundalk Grammar School, Ireland

Outstanding Sportsmanship Award supported by Force India Formula One Team

WINNER               Cyber Express F1 Team, Gymnázium J.K.Tyla, Czech Republic

Team Portfolio Award supported by F1 Racing Magazine

WINNER               Velospeed SIC, Sekolah Menengah Sains Hulu Selangor, Malaysia

Sponsorship and Marketing Award supported by Marussia Virgin Racing

WINNER               Fflam, Ysgol Botwnnog, Wales

Perseverance in the Face of Adversity Award supported by Red Bull Racing

WINNER               Phoenix Team Kenya, St. Andrew’s School, Kenya

Best Research and Development Award supported by Pirelli    

WINNER               BETAGREEN, Grootmoor Gymnasium, Germany

Best Innovative Thinking Award supported by Lotus Renault GP              

WINNER               Team RedShift, Dubai College, UAE

Best Newcomer Award supported by Sauber F1 Team                  

WINNER               Dresser Racing, Kongsberg High School, Norway

Best Team Website Award supported by Denford Ltd   

WINNER               Octane Racing, Dundalk Grammar School, Ireland