Colchester: School team's racetrack success

10:32am Wednesday 16th July 2008

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A TEAM of mechanics and racing drivers from Colchester have stormed their way into the national finals of a mileage marathon.

The team from Philip Morant School in Colchester achieved their best ever results in the national GreenPower Electric Car Marathon regional heat.

And now they are on the starting line for the finals at Goodwood later this year.

In the challenge, each car has to cover as many miles as possible in four hours using battery power. Two batteries power the car with two more waiting on charge back in the pits.

Philip Morant School entered two cars into the challenge - Fireblade and Franc N Stein.

Fireblade came third in the heat at Rockingham giving it automatic qualification to the finals. The car completed nearly 100 miles in the alloted time.

Franc covered 80 miles and will now have to wait to see if it has qualified as a highest scorer or it can see if it can win automatic qualification at the next heat this weekend.

Technology teacher Stuart McCain, who is director of Philip Morant School's Greenpower team, said: "Both crews exceeded their expectations.

"We are delighted with the result and we are hoping to do even better in the finals."

He added: "There is a massive amount of technical back up, a great deal of communication."

Both crews also picked up further awards at the regional heat. They were presented with the prestigious Spirit of Greenpower Award for their determination to improve year after year and they were given bronze and silver awards for the mileage of the cars, the fastest lap award and the IOM3 innovative use of materials award.

Mr McCain said the success was down to first class teamwork and engineering.

Mr McCain said: "You find the quality of the engineering in the final is pro rata to the position on the grid in the final."