Kent primary students race to victory at Lenovo F1 in Schools 2025 UK finals
A team of four students from Snodland CEP Primary School in Kent, UK has won the Lenovo F1 in Schools 2025 UK Primary National Finals.
The event, held at the Magna Science and Adventure Centre in Rotherham, brought together over 200 students to compete in one of the country’s largest STEM-based school competitions. The winning team, named Striking Force, also earned the Fastest Car Award, supported by Ansys.
Team members Leon, Jake, Thomas, and Hugo designed and built a miniature race car that recorded a track time of 1.832 seconds on the 20-meter Official F1 in Schools racetrack. Their performance placed them ahead of BAS Racing from Ysgol Llywelyn, Rhyl (second place) and Hawkeye Racers from Hodge Hill Primary School, Birmingham (third place).
Leon, team manager of Striking Force, said:
“We’re speechless. We’ve put blood, sweat and tears into this. We’ve worked so hard and have been doing it for three years, but it is still a massive shock to have won. We’ve loved making the car, learning about aerodynamics and having some fun. Time management was our biggest challenge, but we learned a lot and I reckon it will be really good for our careers in the future.”
Competition structure emphasizes engineering and teamwork
F1 in Schools challenges students to form teams of up to six members and create a race car out of card, complete with a body shell and driver figure. Using standardized chassis and design templates, teams build and test their cars before racing them on a dedicated track. The competition is linked to Key Stage 2 STEM objectives and evaluates students across categories including design, engineering, marketing, presentations, and race performance.
Schools typically spend up to nine months preparing for the event. Some work with local engineering companies during the development phase. Regional competitions determine which teams progress to the national stage.
Josh Smith, F1 in Schools club coordinator at Snodland CEP Primary School, said:
“This is an accumulation of all their hard work, and I don’t think there’s any children that deserve it more than them. Each of these boys has become stronger, more resilient and really pushed themselves to be the best they can be. F1 in Schools goes way beyond the academic side too, grown their confidence and their reputation among their peers, I know these children will go on to do so well. It means so much to me and the school, I’m lost for words. We’ve been running this for the last three years and really lets them strive, to show their true talents and strengths.”
International teams and future direction for the program
In addition to UK finalists, five guest teams from Hong Kong participated in the event. Speed Strikers from Chan Sui Ki (La Salle) Primary School and St. Paul’s College Primary School won the Verbal Presentation Award. The international category was led by Supernova from Pui Ching Primary School.
Andrew Denford, founder and chairman of F1 in Schools, said:
“The students produced some excellent work that goes way beyond the standard classroom learning and really puts them in pole position with their understanding of key STEM skills. The passion and the achievements of these young people is a credit to their teachers and schools; it’s great to see how a fun, exciting challenge can really inspire them and without even realizing it, they’re hooked on STEM.
“With our recent rebrand to STEM Racing, Supported by Formula 1, we’re continuing to evolve the program to reflect its growing reach, its emphasis on innovation, and the wide range of future careers it opens up for students around the world.”
