Forty-Four Countries Compete in 2019 Challenge – Dominic Sullivan

Mr Sullivan explained that the F1 in Schools Challenge is the world's foremost student competition for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and is open to high school students around the world.

"Teams from around Australia and from 43 other countries are participating in this year's Challenge."

Competing in the Development Class, the PAYCE-sponsored Year 10 team of Mirah Larkin (Team Manager), Zach Burgess (Marketing Manager), Matt Foster (Graphic Designer), Fin Hastie (Manufacturing Engineer) and Nick Hayes (Design Engineer) won awards for Best Engineered CAD, Best Manufactured Car, Best Engineering Design, Best Verbal Presentation and Best Innovation on their way to being crowned overall national champions.

Win is Testimony to Their Hard Work and Dedication – Dominic Sullivan

Mr Sullivan said PAYCE was pleased to support the Blue Mountains Grammar team continue its journey after wins in the regional finals and then the state finals.

"We were impressed with the many hours the team put into the various aspects of the Thrust Vector project during and after school. Taking out the national championship was testimony to their hard work and dedication," he said.

Small Scale F1 Racing Cars are Highly Developed – Dominic Sullivan

"The F1 in Schools Challenge provides a range of opportunities for young students to develop skills and knowledge that will benefit them throughout their remaining school years and later in life," Dominic Sullivan continued.

"Teams design and build a small scale F1 racing cars from a block of balsawood using software and sophisticated computerised laser cutting tools.

"The teams also use a 3D printer to produce parts such as spoilers and wings to fine tune their design," Mr Sullivan said.

The CO2 gas cylinder-powered cars can reach speeds in excess of 100 kilometres per hour and are timed to one-thousandth of a second as they travel in pairs along a 20 metre track.