The lights recently went out to start the high-revving, daring driving drama of this year’s F1 season – but the high tech racing excitement isn’t confined to the grand prix circuit! As the ‘F1 in Schools’ competition has been getting eager teams of students from around the world to design and race the F1 cars of the future.

20 million students from 40 different countries will take part in the international competition. The teams are tasked with designing and building a miniature, balsa wood F1 car that is powered down a track by compressed air, testing reaction times and engineering prowess.

The scheme has been designed to “help change the perceptions of science, technology, engineering and maths by creating a fun and exciting learning environment for young people.”

And Flowcrete Middle East would like to congratulate Team Falconicity from The Dubai British School who they are sponsoring and supporting through the tough competition.

The team did fantastically in their first stage (the inter-school competition) and came 8^th out of 18 teams. They are now aiming to participate in the National Finals in Abu Dhabi, where only the top 10 teams from the UAE will go through to compete against finalists from across the globe.

Throughout the competition the teams are faced with all the same challenges as a real Formula One team to give the students valuable experience in a variety of areas that include business and marketing. Not only do they need to design, build, analyse and race the model car but they need to prepare a business plan, work out a budget and collaborate with businesses.

Team Falconicity have really embraced the competition and have produced two working model cars, a pit display, portfolio, uniform, website and social media profiles.

So watch this space Vettel and Adrian Newey – as the F1 superstars of the future are already getting in gear to be the first over the finish line.