STEM Racing

{{Short description|School STEM competition endorsed by Formula 1}} {{refimprove|reason=Several uncited paragraphs/sections|date=April 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox sports league | logo = 250px | title = STEM Racing | formerly = Jaguar F1 Team in Schools (2001-2005), F1 in Schools (2006-2024) | champion = {{Flagicon|Australia}} Lunar | champ_season = 2025 World Champions | most successful club = {{Flagicon|Australia}} Australia (8 World Championships) | website = {{URL|STEMRacing.com}} | founded = {{Start date and age|1999}} | founder = Andrew Denford | inaugural = 2001 | teams = 83 Teams at the 2025 STEM Racing World Finals | headquarters = Brighouse, United Kingdom }} thumb|right|300px|F1 in Schools racing at 2024 World Finals '''STEM Racing''' (formerly '''F1 in Schools''') is an international STEM competition endorsed by Formula 1 for secondary school students.

Groups of 3–6 students have to design and manufacture a miniature F1 car using CAD/CAM and CAE design tools. The cars are powered by CO2 cartridges and are attached to a track by a nylon wire. They are timed from the moment they are launched to when they pass the finish line.<ref>[http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/LearningCurve/2073683/Article/index_html The New Straits Times Online] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071111021436/http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/LearningCurve/2073683/Article/index_html |date=11 November 2007 }}</ref>

The cars have to follow extensive regulations, in a similar fashion to Formula 1 (e.g. the wheels of the car must be in contact with the track at all times). The cars are raced on a 20m long track with four lanes (in the Aramco STEM Racing World Finals, generally 2 lanes), to allow two to four cars to be raced simultaneously.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://catalog.pitsco.com/about/news/item.aspx?art=363&bhcp=1 |title=Pitsco Ideas & Solutions: About Us: F1 in Schools Announces Winners |publisher=Catalog.pitsco.com |access-date=2013-08-17 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708223403/http://catalog.pitsco.com/about/news/item.aspx?art=363&bhcp=1 |archive-date=8 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> CFD software called F1 Virtual Wind Tunnel<ref name="virtual wind tunnel">[https://web.archive.org/web/20080424133011/http://www.denford.ltd.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=51&Itemid=30 Denford Website - Virtual Wind Tunnel]</ref> was designed by Denford Ltd., who are also the organisers and founders of STEM Racing specifically for the challenge, although teams mostly tend to use other packages such as the Ansys Workbench or Autodesk Simulation suites.

{{As of|2008}} the competition was operational in over 40 countries.<ref name = "blogspot">{{cite web|publisher=The F1 in Schools Technology Challenge |url=http://f1inschools.blogspot.com |title=F1 in Schools International News |date=2008-03-20 |access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref> The competition was first introduced in the UK in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.f1inschools.us/ |title=Welcome to F1 in Schools! |publisher=F1inschools.us |access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref> The competition's aim is to introduce younger people to engineering in a fun environment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.f1inschools.co.uk/about.asp |title=About |publisher=F1 in Schools |date=2012-10-25 |access-date=2013-08-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202141411/http://www.f1inschools.co.uk/about.asp |archive-date=2 February 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The competition is held annually, with Regional and National Finals. The overall winners of the National Finals are invited to compete at the World Finals, which are held at a different location each year, usually held in conjunction with a Formula One Grand Prix. In the UK competition there are 3 classes of entry: Professional Class aimed at 11- to 19-year-olds; Development Class aimed at 11- to 19-year-olds in their first year; and Entry Class aimed at 11- to 14-year-olds. {{As of|2025|October}}, the STEM Racing World Champions are Lunar from Brighton Grammar School in Australia.

The STEM Racing World Record was set in 2016 by the Australian team [https://infinitudeaustralia.github.io/ Infinitude] and is 0.916 seconds.<ref>{{cite news |title=Australia set new record at F1 in Schools World Finals |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/headlines/2016/10/australia-set-new-world-record-at-f1-in-schools-world-finals.html}}</ref>

After safety issues concerning the use of extended canister chambers coupled with the Launch Energy Recovery System (LERS), the controversial device was banned globally from the 2017 World Finals season onwards, after being innovated in 2014 by Colossus F1.

[[File:Fernando Alonso racing at the 2024 F1 in Schools World Finals.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Fernando Alonso takes part in a race at the 2024 F1 in Schools World Finals]]

Denford Ltd. unveiled a new track and timing system that debuted at the 2017 World Finals.<ref>{{cite web |title=ALL NEW FOR 2017! F1 in Schools Race System Powered by Denford |date=26 September 2017|url=http://website.denford.ltd.uk/news/new-2017-f1-schools-race-system-powered-denford/}}</ref> All components are manufactured in-house, at lower cost than the previous Pitsco-produced track. The track's launching mechanism has had numerous reliability issues since its introduction.

In 2018, the competition's logo was updated to incorporate Formula One's updated logo, and the Bernie Ecclestone World Champions trophy was replaced with a new trophy incorporating the new logo and the car of the 2017 World Champions, Hyperdrive.

The 2020 F1 in Schools World Finals was postponed twice due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Finals 2020–21 was held as a virtual event in the UK in June 2021, with 43 competing teams.<ref>{{cite news |title=2020 F1 in Schools World Finals delayed again and relocated to UK as Australian Grand Prix postponed |url=https://www.offthetrack.net/posts/2021-01-2020-f1-in-schools-world-finals-postponed-to-june-2021}}</ref>

In 2024, Formula 1 announced that the competition would be rebranded from F1 in Schools to STEM Racing.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 December 2024 |title=Formula 1 to support re-branded STEM Racing programme and inspire the next generation through education |url=https://corp.formula1.com/formula-1-to-support-re-branded-stem-racing-programme-and-inspire-the-next-generation-through-education/ |access-date=10 March 2025 |website=Formula One}}</ref>

== Aspects of the competition ==

'''Specifications judging''' Specifications judging is a detailed inspection process where the race car is assessed for compliance with the STEM Racing Technical Regulations. Scrutineering is conducted within the confines of parc fermé, where judges use a series of specially manufactured gauges and accurate measuring tools to check cars' compliance.

All of the rules and regulations season can be found at the STEM Racing website.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.f1inschools.co.uk/download--13.html |title=Download - 2011-12 F1 Class Technical Regulations |access-date=27 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305051728/http://www.f1inschools.co.uk/download--13.html |archive-date=5 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

'''Engineering judging''' The scheduled engineering judging interview session focuses on the application of CAD/CAM analysis, CAD data organisation, orthographic drawing, 3D render and use of CNC machining. This is an informal interview where judges ask the team to demonstrate their CAD / CAM work and query teams on what they have done.

'''Portfolio and pit display judging'''

Each team of students is required to produce an enterprise portfolio, engineering portfolio as well as a pit display. The portfolios are A3 size and should contain information about the team, their car design and manufacturing process, marketing techniques, project management, teamwork and team identity. Teams are given an area to set up a pit display which is judged alongside their design portfolio by a panel of judges.

'''Verbal presentation judging''' In advance of the competition, teams prepare a timed verbal presentation to present to a panel of judges, outlining their project. Teams usually use a PowerPoint presentation/Canva Presentation as a visual aid when presenting to the judges. The length of the verbal presentation varies depending on the level of the competition. At World Finals Level teams are required to prepare a 10-minute presentation.

'''Racing'''

Teams race their cars against each other on the 20-metre STEM Racing competition track. Points are awarded for reaction time racing as well as knockout racing.

== Defining car features == Regulations vary from regional to national to world finals, but the basic features, resembling a real F1 car, are consistent.

'''Front and rear wing'''

The cars have to include a front wing that does not cover the wheels if seen from the side or the top in the technical drawing. The front wing can not cover the wheels higher than 15 mm relative to the track surface and must not be physically obstructed by any other components of the car. The minimum wingspan of the front wing is 50 mm and its thickness should be between 2 mm and 6 mm. To allow for airflow, the front wing must have at least 5 mm of clear air space to any other part of the car or track surface.<ref name="Tech Regs">{{Cite web |title=F1 in Schools World Finals Technical Regulations 2022 |url=https://www.auto-data.net/en/audi-tt-coupe-8n-1.8-t-225hp-quattro-4889 |access-date=7 March 2023 |website=f1inschools.com |publisher=F1 in Schools Ltd |publication-date=8 December 2021}}</ref>

The rear wing cannot cover the rear wheels if seen from above and must not be physically obstructed by any other component when viewed from the front. The rear wing must have a single, unbroken minimum span of 50 mm and a thickness between 2 mm to 6 mm. Similar to the front wing, to allow for airflow the rear wing must have a minimum of 5 mm clear air space to any other part of the car or track surface.<ref name="Tech Regs" />

'''Cartridge chamber'''

The cars feature a chamber to hold the CO2 cartridge. It has to be parallel to the track surface.

'''Wheels'''

The cars have to include four wheels with a given scope of width and radius that are in contact with the surface of the track at all times. The wheels must be entirely visible from the right or left side and from the top. There is a 15 mm long exclusion zone behind the width of the front wheels.

'''Halo'''

The STEM Racing regulations later included an additional structure known as the "Halo", a standard structure across all STEM Racing Cars in the World Finals, introduced into the Indian and Australian National Finals in 2025. The Halo is the New Standard Deceleration system, which uses a rubber band to catch the car after the finish line

'''Car body'''

The cars have to incorporate a virtual cargo horizontal to the track surface in between the centre of the axis of the wheels. This renders many "catamaran" designs insufficient. Cars have to be symmetrical to a vertically oriented reference plane. Cars also feature side boxes large enough to hold the STEM Racing decal. In 2025, a "Legal Ballast", a cavity under the Halo assembly has been allowed, which can be used for weight reduction, or to house fishing weights to increase the car to the absolute minimum weight of 48g.

== STEM Racing World Finals results == Generally, Regional/State Champions are invited to compete at their country's National Finals, with the in-country organising authority inviting other teams to the National Finals through the use of wildcards. The National Champions are invited to represent their country at the World Finals. The winning team receives the STEM Racing World Championship Trophy. The World Finals podium places and Best Engineered Car are outlined below.

{{sticky header}} {| class="wikitable sticky-header" style="font-size: 85%;" ! style=min-width:9em | Venue ! World Champions ! Second place ! Third Place ! Best Engineered Car |- | 2004 {{flagicon|GBR}} Coventry<ref name="wanted judge">[http://www.eef.org.uk/UK/whatwedo/information/by+subject/educationandskills/briefings/public/2004/briefing08092004.htm EEF : Wanted - Judge for the International F1 Team in Schools Final!] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928083728/http://www.eef.org.uk/UK/whatwedo/information/by+subject/educationandskills/briefings/public/2004/briefing08092004.htm |date=28 September 2007 }}</ref> | {{flagicon|USA}} Turbo Bloomsburg High School (PA) | {{flagicon|RSA}} Flash St Alban's College | {{flagicon|AUS}} Thunder Down Under Cheltenham Girls High School (NSW) & Noosa District State High (QLD) | {{flagicon|AUS}} Thunder Down Under Cheltenham Girls High (NSW) & Noosa District State High School (QLD) |- | 2006 {{flagicon|GBR}} Birmingham<ref name="Denford">[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929035513/http://www.denford.ltd.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=60&Itemid=55 Denford Website - F1 in Schools International Finals 05/06]</ref> | {{flagicon|AUS}} Stingers Trinity Grammar School | {{flagicon|RSA}} Flash St Alban's College | {{flagicon|USA}} Turbo Bloomsburg High School (PA) | {{flagicon|AUS}} Stingers Trinity Grammar School |- | 2007 {{flagicon|AUS}} Melbourne<ref>[http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=38742&PO=38742 F1 | Formula 1 - Ulster team takes F1 in Schools crown - ITV Sport] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070324152424/http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=38742&PO=38742 |date=24 March 2007 }}</ref> | {{flagicon|Northern Ireland}} FUGA Coleraine Academical Institution | {{flagicon|SCO}} Lighting Blairgowrie High School | {{flagicon|MAS}} Mercurial Ace SMK Convent Bukit Nanas | {{flagicon|AUS}} STEM F1 Trinity College |- | 2008 {{flagicon|MAS}} Kuala Lumpur<ref name = "malaysia">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/devon/7310347.stm |title=UK | England | Devon | School races to F1 model car win |publisher=BBC News |date=2008-03-23 |access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref> | {{flagicon|ENG}} Pulse Devonport High School for Boys | {{flagicon|AUS}} Goshawk Trinity Christian School (ACT) | {{flagicon|AUS}} Impulse F1 Barker College | {{flagicon|AUS}} Impulse F1 Barker College |- | 2009 {{flagicon|GBR}} London<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.f1inschools.com/news--2009-world-champions.html |title=Recent News |publisher=F1inschools.com |date=2012-10-25 |access-date=2013-08-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319082359/http://www.f1inschools.com/news--2009-world-champions.html |archive-date=19 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | {{flagicon|IRL}} The Koni Kats St. David's Secondary School | {{flagicon|AUS}} Redline Racing Trinity Christian School | {{flagicon|AUS}}{{flagicon|CAN}} AC Racing Noosa District State High School (QLD) & Miles MacDonell (MB) | {{flagicon|AUS}} Redline Racing Trinity Christian School |- | 2010 {{flagicon|SIN}} Singapore | {{flagicon|USA}} Unitus Racing Southeast High School (FL) & James Madison Middle School (VA) | {{flagicon|AUS}}{{flagicon|UAE}} Zer0.9 Pine Rivers State High School & The Indian High School, Dubai | {{flagicon|GER}} Aixtreme Racing Einhard-Gymnasium Aachen | {{flagicon|AUS}} Basilisk Performance Sebastopol College |- | 2011 {{flagicon|MAS}} Kuala Lumpur | {{flagicon|AUS}} PentaGliders Brooks High School | {{flagicon|GER}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20111224194913/http://betagreen.de/ BETAGREEN] Gymnasium Grootmoor | {{flagicon|USA}} Unitus Racing Southeast High School (FL) & James Madison Middle School (VA) | {{flagicon|AUS}} PentaGliders Brooks High School |- | 2012 {{flagicon|UAE}} Abu Dhabi | {{flagicon|AUS}} Cold Fusion Brighton Secondary School | {{flagicon|GBR}} Team Ignite | {{flagicon|ENG}} Rush Robert May's School | {{flagicon|AUS}} Cold Fusion Brighton Secondary School |- | 2013 {{flagicon|USA}} Austin | {{flagicon|AUS}} A1 Racing Phoenix P-12 Community College (VIC) & Pine Rivers State High School (QLD) | {{flagicon|USA}} Allegiance Racing Southeast High School (FL) | {{flagicon|GER}} Unlimited Acceleration Lessing-Gymnasium Winnenden (BW) | {{flagicon|IRL}} Bardahl Racing St David's Holy Faith Secondary School |- | 2014 {{flagicon|UAE}} Abu Dhabi | {{flagicon|ENG}} Colossus F1 907.7 Points Robert May's School | {{flagicon|AUS}} Gamma Raycing 844.2 Points Magdalene Catholic High School (NSW) | {{flagicon|GER}} Boreas Racing 840.5 Points Gymnasium An der Stenner Iserlohn (NRW) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Colossus F1 Robert May's School |- | 2015 {{flagicon|SIN}} Singapore | {{flagicon|GER}}/{{flagicon|USA}} Union Racing International Alexander-von-Humboldt Gymnasium Greifswald (MV) & Lexington High School (MA) | {{flagicon|POR}} Mustangs | {{flagicon|IRL}} Team AIB Racing | {{flagicon|CAN}} Laminar Racing |- | 2016 {{flagicon|USA}} Austin | {{flagicon|AUS}} Infinitude 837.8 Points Brighton Secondary School & St Bede's College | {{flagicon|GRE}} Infinite Racing 852.3 Points Mandoulides School | {{flagicon|GER}} Endeavour 770.5 Points Gymnasium Unterrieden Sindelfingen (BW), Karl-Friedrich-Gymnasium (BW) & Kurfürst-Friedrich-Gymnasium (BW) | {{flagicon|UAE}} Knight Hawks The Indian High School, Dubai |- | 2017 {{flagicon|MYS}} Kuala Lumpur | {{flagicon|AUS}} Hyperdrive 906.7 Points Trinity Grammar School | {{flagicon|AUS}}/{{flagicon|GER}} Aurora 887.5 Points Brighton Secondary School & Fichte-Gymnasium Hagen | {{flagicon|GER}} Pioneers 873.0 Points Gymnasium Kronshagen | {{flagicon|AUS}} Hyperdrive Trinity Grammar School |- | 2018 {{flagicon|SGP}} Singapore | {{flagicon|AUS}} Horizon 878.4 Points Brighton Secondary School | {{flagicon|IRL}} CJJ AutoVinco 860.0 Points St. Brigid's College, Loughrea | {{flagicon|USA}} Perspective 834.7 Points Palmetto High School | {{flagicon|AUS}} Horizon Brighton Secondary School |- | 2019 {{flagicon|UAE}} Abu Dhabi | {{flagicon|GBR}} Evolve UK 855.5 Points Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School | {{flagicon|GER}} Fusion 826.8 Points Gymnasium Unterrieden Sindelfingen | {{flagicon|GBR}} Aflex Hose Centurion Racing 820.2 Points Rishworth School | {{flagicon|AUS}} Ascension Mount View High School & Penrith Christian School |- | 2020(21) {{flagicon|GBR}} United Kingdom | {{flagicon|GBR}} Britannia Red 882.1 Points Robert May's School | {{flagicon|IRL}} Quintolux 834.0 Points St. Brigid's College, Loughrea | {{flagicon|AUS}} Nebula 792.9 Points Wesley College | {{flagicon|GBR}} Britannia Red Robert May's School |- | 2021(22) {{flagicon|GBR}} Silverstone | {{flagicon|AUS}} Hydron 880.0 Points Trinity Grammar School, Kew | {{flagicon|WAL}} BLACKOUT 856.0 Points St John's College, Cardiff | {{flagicon|GBR}} SBA Avidity Racing 827.1 Points Scarborough UTC | {{flagicon|AUS}} Hydron Trinity Grammar School, Kew |- |2023 {{Flagicon|Singapore}} Singapore |{{Flagicon|GER}} Recoil Racing 846.5 Points Marie-Therese-Gymnasium Erlangen |{{Flagicon|Australia}} Propulsion 834.9 Points Charles Campbell College |{{Flagicon|India }} Blaze 776.3 Points The British School, New Delhi |{{Flagicon|Australia}} Propulsion Charles Campbell College |- |2024 {{Flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} Saudi Arabia |{{Flagicon|Germany}} evolut1on 867.3 Points {{ill|Karl-Maybach-Gymnasium|de}} |{{Flagicon|Germany}} Array 811.2 Points {{ill|Gymnasium Grootmoor, Hamburg|de|Gymnasium_Grootmoor}} |{{Flagicon|Australia}} Lunar 808.3 Points Brighton Grammar School |{{Flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} Oryx Ithra |- |2025 {{Flagicon|Singapore}} Singapore |{{Flagicon|Australia}} Lunar 875.0 Points Brighton Grammar School |{{Flagicon|Germany}} Blue Wolves 853.5 Points Gymnasium in der Taus Backnang |{{flagicon|GBR}} SBA Unity Racing 834.1 Points Scarborough University Technical College |{{Flagicon|Australia}} Lunar Brighton Grammar School |- |2026 {{Flagicon|Singapore}} Singapore |TBC |TBC |TBC |TBC |}

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == {{official|https://www.stemracing.com/}}

Category:Formula One Category:Engineering education in the United Kingdom Category:Educational projects