Hat-trick for Scarborough Teenage Trio in F1 World Finals

Scarborough UTC students have scooped sensational victories at the F1 in Schools final.

Missy McArdle, Libby Atkin and Alex Jenkin were applauded for their “excellent understanding and professional skills” as they collected the trophy for best project management.

They made it a hat-trick of honours – awarded the accolade of overall Third Place in the world from the four-day event and were also runners-up in the Pit Display Award.

The trio had to create a sustainable, aerodynamic F1 car on a 1/20th scale to race on a 20-metre track in just over one second.

They were tested on their engineering skills in creating an air-propelled miniature racing car and on their management, financial and marketing strategy.

The trio faced tough competition from hundreds of students in 52 teams from 23 countries including America, Australia, Canada China, India, Greece, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Brazil, as well as Ireland, Scotland, Wales and two other English teams.

The Scarborough teenagers won through to the finals at Silverstone after being crowned UK national winners last autumn.

Missy, 18, Libby, 17 and Alex, 18, attended the event with Rob Shephard, UTC Director of Engineering.

They said:

"We are immensely proud.

“The journey and development throughout our time at the UTC and in F1 in Schools has been immeasurable and breath-taking.

"Being awarded the Project Management Award, nominated for Best Pit Display and to be announced third in the world just tops it off for us."

Missy, formerly of Pindar School, is aiming to take an MSc degree in Motorsport Engineering at Oxford Brookes University.

She won the top award last October for Girls on Track UK, a scheme to encourage more female students to consider careers in engineering and motorsport.

Libby, 17, project manager, hopes to take an aerospace engineering management degree.

Alex Jenkin, 18, formerly of Graham School, is the engineer in the team and will be undertaking an apprenticeship degree with the Ministry of Defence as a mechanical engineer.

UTC principal Lee Kilgour said:

“The Scarborough UTC community is so proud of the SBA Avidity Racing F1 in Schools Team.

“For Missy, Alec and Libby and our Director of Engineering Rob Shephard, this is an amazing award which reflects their dedication, hard work, long hours and their incredible talent.

“Above all this is a tremendous testament to the power of a University Technical College education.

Ashley Dalton Forsyth, of the Project Management Institute Education Foundation, made the presentation for the Best Application of Project Management, Ashley said:

“The team produced outstanding work, with an amazing portfolio of professional quality,"

They have learned skills for life.”

Peter Wilkinson, a driving force in the creation of the UTC and immediate past chairman of trustees and newly-retired chairman of the Scarborough Business Ambassadors, said:

“I am overwhelmed at their triumphs on the world stage.

“The Ambassadors supported the college and its F1 in Schools teams from day one and we are extremely proud of what has been achieved.”

The UTC Avidity Racing team is sponsored by the Scarborough Business Ambassadors, along with Anglo American, Carter Bearings, BDC Machinery, Blue Raptor Signs, Nissan, IGUS and McCain Foods.

F1 in Schools was established 21 years ago to help develop research, design and manufacturing skills for young people. It is the biggest science and technology initiative offered to students worldwide.

The event is linked with the international F1 championship and was founded by Andrew Denford, who runs an engineering facility in West Yorkshire.

The UTC team reached the world finals that were held in Abu Dhabi in 2019.

At Silverstone, a team from Australia were judged the overall winners.