A new local charity Fab Lab Pembrokeshire partnered with Engineering Education Scheme Wales (EESW) this week and opened its doors to welcome two Pembrokeshire schools to learn about the F1 in schools challenge.

A total of 32 pupils from Year 5 in Saundersfoot and 18 pupils from Year 8 at Castle School attended a workshop to design and make an F1 2D car and then compete against each other. The session was run by EESW F1 in schools manager Steve Lane.

The aim of F1 in Schools is to provide a fun and hands-on Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) initiative that demonstrate a number of different levels of science and engineering.

The challenge provides students with the opportunity to develop transferable key skills such as design, development and testing, communication, presenting and team working, which will form the foundation of their future, in whichever career path they choose.

The F1 in schools challenge also aims to introduce pupils to computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing.

The students worked in teams of three and undertook the roles of team manager, team engineer and team designer, they discussed how to streamline their cars for the best aerodynamic effect; engine positioning for best weight distribution and optimum wheel size.

Then the competition began in earnest with students racing their cars against each other on the F1 track.

The victorious teams were team ‘Venom’ from Saundersfoot school with a track time of 1.846 seconds, second placed were team ‘Green’ with a time of 1.892 seconds.

Team ‘DAB’ triumphed from Castle School with a track time of 1.764 seconds, second placed were team ‘AWA’ with a time of 1.842 seconds.

Fab Lab Pembrokeshire is working with EESW and local schools to provide a program of activities in the autumn, including the follow up to last year’s successful Big Bang event.

There are also plans for an F1 Indie Club initiative to enable parents and their children to come and build a car in an out of school club and race against each other in a Pembrokeshire F1 in Schools Indie league.

Any schools or individuals interested in participating or exploring what else Fab Lab offers, should contact 01646 689309 or visit www.fablabpembrokeshire.org.uk