16 March 2010

Costain sponsorship helped a team of student racers power their way to the national finals of the Formula 1 (F1) in Schools Technology Challenge.

The competition challenges students to design, build and race a model F1 car made from a block of balsa wood and powered by a compressed air canister. Points are awarded not only for design and speed but also marketing and presentation.

The car designed by Stephanie Thompson, daughter of Costain's James Thompson, Emma Banerjee, Hannah Ward and Zoe Irwin from West Houghton High School, Bolton covered 20 metres in just 1.137 seconds to win the north west regional heat. At the national finals held at the NEC, Birmingham, the car went even quicker, clocking 1.124 seconds to make it third fastest of the 30 competing cars and only 0.011 seconds behind the fastest. The students, known as Team Wipeout, were placed fourth overall.

Costain's sponsorship helped the team develop the car and buy materials.

Proud dad James, Aftercare Manager on the Greater Manchester Waste Project, (a Costain contract) says the students were: "disappointed not to win but they know that it wasn't for want of trying - they gave it their best.

And he says they will be back on the grid next year: "This year's performance was a massive improvement on what they did last year. Hopefully in next year's competition, with slight improvements to the car, they'll be able to improve even more."

ends