Andrew Denford, Founder and Chairman, F1 in Schools, addresses delegates at the Motor Sport Business Forum Middle East in Bahrain. © F1 in Schools

Felipe Massa (BRA) Ferrari F2008 crosses the line to win the race. Formula One World Championship, Rd 3, Bahrain Grand Prix, Race, Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain, Sunday, 6 April 2008 © F1 in Schools

F1 in Schools winners. Malaysian Grand Prix, Rd 2, Qualifying Day, Sepang, Malaysia, Saturday, 22 March 2008 © F1 in Schools

The annual F1 in Schools competition challenges schoolchildren from 29 countries to design, build and test model CO2-powered balsa wood Formula One cars. And while the contest is already firmly established in Kuwait, Denford hopes that schools in other countries in the region will start to participate too.

“The Middle East is experiencing phenomenal investment and growth in motorsport, and there is a challenge to build the infrastructure of skilled personnel alongside the impressive race circuit facilities,” he explained. “We hope that our F1 in Schools programme can play an important role within mainstream education in this region and expect to follow up on this Forum with some of the influential and pioneering personalities who can help us to achieve this.”

At the event, Denford also announced that F1 in Schools planned to launch its Middle East expansion in the near future, focusing on seven countries in particular, as part of a collaboration with Union Properties and the F1X in Dubai.

The F1 in Schools 2008 world championships recently took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia during the build up to the Malaysian Grand Prix. Team Pulse, from Devonport High School for Boys in Plymouth, England, were eventually crowned champions and took home the Bernie Ecclestone world championship trophy and BEng Automotive and Motor Sport Engineering scholarships at London’s City University as their prizes.