STUDENTS are revving up to race after being invited to compete in a prestigious engineering contest.
Year 5 pupils from Springfield Academy, which is part of the Education Village, Darlington, are entering for the first time the annual Green Power Car Project.
The competition is designed to spark an interest in engineering as well as highlight the importance of science, technology and maths.
With the help of experts from Cummins Engines, Darlington, the students are busy building an aluminium kart, which will be powered by an electric motor.
They are also developing a race team complete with pit crew, cheerleaders and branding, as well as writing a blog on their progress, before competing against schools from across the region later this month.
There will also be driving assessments where students will be judged on their abilities and weights to find the optimum and quickest driver to take part in a drag-race, chicane and endurance laps.
Teacher Alison Watson said: “Haughton Academy is fielding two teams but this is the first time Springfield has taken part.
“It really has brought to life a host of important subjects because the students can now see how, science, technology, engineering and maths can be applied to real life. It is something new, real-world and exciting and the children have really risen to the challenge.”
