04 April 2012 Von: F1 in Schools

F1 in Schools™, the leading global educational initiative linked to the high-profile Formula 1™ and wider motor sport industry, has reached a significant development in its history, with the announcement today of a ground-breaking collaboration with the FIA Women in Motor Sport campaign.

F1 in Schools is an engineering-based programme which challenges teams of students from 9-19 to develop a scale model Formula 1 car of the future, tasking them with designing, manufacturing, testing and racing their bespoke race car, as well as documenting their work with a pit display, written and verbal presentations.

The breadth of disciplines within the challenge, with roles for students interested in various aspects of STEM subjects, including CAD work, aerodynamics, manufacturing, graphic design and business management, has led to teams which are headed by girls, include girls and in some cases, are all-girl teams. The increasing popularity of Formula 1 with a younger audience, both boys and girls, has also resulted in the growth of teams which include girls.

F1 in Schools has a great track record of attracting girls into the competition with a year on year entry of over 34%. Last year at the World Finals 40% of the competitors were girls. The support of the FIA Women in Motorsport campaign began with sponsorship of a trophy at the F1 in Schools UK National Finals 2012, which took place on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 March. The trophy recognises exceptional female talent competing at the event and was presented by Sue Sanders, UK representative of the FIA Women & Motor Sport Commission (WMC). The winners were the girls from Adrenaline, a team from Robert May’s School in Odiham, Hampshire.

The collaboration will extend to the F1 in Schools World Finals 2012 which will be held later this year, with the FIA Women & Motor Sport Commission presenting a trophy to the best performing girls team. In addition, some of the F1 in Schools female winners have been invited to present at a seminar organised by the Commission in Paris in June of this year.

Sanders says of the WMC linking with F1 in Schools, “There are already many women involved in motor sport, but there should be equal opportunities and this will take time. F1 in Schools is nurturing young female talent interested in motor sport and exposing them to the many disciplines and skills needed for a career in the industry, whether this is in engineering, manufacturing, marketing or wider management opportunities. I am sure through their participation in F1 in Schools, increasing numbers of girls will consider entering the motor sport industry and help to achieve a better balance of representation for women in the future.”

Andrew Denford, Founder and Chairman, F1 in Schools, adds, “We wholeheartedly welcome the support of the FIA and the Women & Motor Sport Commission and are proud that our programme is recognised as an initiative which attracts girls and shows them the variety of career opportunities available to them within motor sport. Our initiative can help them to learn skills which are necessary for entry into this industry and to be aware of the opportunities and dynamism which Formula 1 and other motor sport categories offer. Recognising exceptional female talent within F1 in Schools is a great way to further promote our programme to female students, so our thanks go to the FIA WMC for their trophy.”

The Challenge, in its twelfth year, was introduced to the UK in 2000 and since this time has expanded to over 40 countries, with millions of students taking part around the globe. Bernie Ecclestone, President and CEO of Formula One™ Management gave his support to F1 in Schools by granting the challenge a world-wide protected trademark and a new logo in 2005. Since this time the initiative has built close links with all the F1 teams and F1 personalities within Formula 1.