Scottish youngsters on track for electric car challenge

Schools are invited to take part in the F24 Greenpower Challenge

A national engineering competition that challenges youngsters to design, build and race electric cars is heading to Aberdeen this summer.

Pupils from more than 20 Scottish schools will be taking part in the Secondary F24 Greenpower Challenge. The competition dates back to 1999, and has been held in Scotland since 2006, when just three cars were involved.

This year up to 300 youngsters from Grampian, Dundee and Angus, Glasgow, the Highlands, Ullapool and Dunoon are expected to compete.

Secondary schools are invited to buy an F24 kit from Greenpower (www.greenpower.co.uk) or build a car from scratch around the motor and batteries. The teams will compete in a four-hour endurance race relying on a maximum of four batteries.

In the past pupils have created cars from a wide range of materials including an upturned plastic bath and a ladder.

Frances Chapman, the event organiser, said: “The core aim is to promote engineering and technology as subject and career choices, but pupils gain so much more than that – as well as developing their team-building skills, the project involves everything from project management and environmental know-how to fundraising, sponsorship and marketing... not to mention lots of fun!”

The competition will be held at the racetrack of the Grampian Transport Museum in Alford on 15 June. Winners will go on to represent Scotland at the national event at Goodwood near Chichester in October. Other prizes up for grabs include Best Engineered Car and Best Presented Team.

A separate event for primary school pupils will be held on 16 June. The Greenpower Goblin Challenge will see youngsters build a Goblin Kit Car. The teams will then take part in slalom, drag and sprint races.

• Events are open to the public free of charge, though entry fees to the museum will apply. For more information visit www.steminspire.co.uk.