News DeskAbu Dhabi, UAE – Yas Marina Circuit is set to witness an electrifying event as teams of young engineers from across the UAE gather to compete in the UAE National Finals of the F1 in Schools competition. This prestigious event will see twenty school teams showcasing their miniature Formula One car designs, vying for a coveted spot at the world championship in Singapore next September.
The F1 in Schools competition, known for its rigorous challenges, requires students to fundraise and manage budgets to build their own small-scale F1 cars. Utilizing their science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) skills, these young innovators aim to demonstrate their prowess on a 20-metre indoor track where the balsa wood cars, powered by carbon dioxide cartridges, can reach speeds of up to 80 kilometres per hour, typically completing the race in just over a second.
Among the competitors is Ignite School Dubai’s team, the Tachyon Crew. This dedicated group has been preparing since March, combining their technological skills with savvy marketing strategies to bring their vision to life. “We didn’t expect to win any trophy. We just wanted to participate, which makes us feel good, but we spent about a year on the project,” shared Dhoha Naqvi, a Grade 9 student and team manager.
Mr. Ibrahim, Art and Architecture Teacher at Ignite School, highlighted the team’s extensive efforts. “We started preparing for this event back in March and learned a lot from the in-house experiments, and that of course helped us to obtain the third position,” he stated.
Meet the Tachyon Crew:
- Team Leader: Dhoha Naqvi
- Operations and Finance: Afra Quadri
- Design: Nathan Magalness
- Manufacturing: Reeha Meerza
- Marketing: Lana Hadgie
- Aesthetics: Issa Aldarei
- Sales and Support: Leyan Majid and Elizabeth Papp
The Tachyon Crew aims to bring victory to Ignite School by revolutionizing small F1 car design and performance, guided by the innovative concept of tachyon molecules. “We are excited to compete and show how our hard work and technological skills have come together to create something remarkable,” said Afar Quadri. Nathan Magalness, the team’s design expert, added, “Designing and building these cars has been an incredible experience. We’ve learned so much and are eager to see our efforts pay off on the track.”
The F1 in Schools initiative continues to promote STEM education successfully, with many participants advancing to roles in Formula 1 teams and other significant positions. As the programme expands globally, it remains the largest and most impactful school-based STEM initiative, strongly supported by the Formula 1 community.
For students passionate about motorsports, engineering, and business, this competition provides a unique platform to innovate, test, and race their designs, fostering creativity and honing their skills.
