Students make first place

After learning to engineer a racing car from scratch, students at Dalby State High School came first at the Formula Student competition.

STUDENTS ENGINEER WIN: Year 11 students from DSHS design and build a prize racing vehicle in a Formula Student Competition. Picture: Ebony Graveur

YEAR 11 students from Dalby State High School have every reason to feel proud after their well-earned win last Friday in the Formula Student competition.

Students worked to build, from scratch, a racing car that would surpass those constructed by other contestants in categories including best engineering, best presentation, best presented pit crew, as well as speed.

The program is in its second year and aims to introduce students to engineering as well as educate students - many of whom had yet to get their Learner's Permit - on the importance of road safety.

"The main focus of the program is to attain a Certificate II in Engineering Pathways. And they do that by constructing the car,” said teacher Stuart Borrows. "As a reward, all the schools come together at the end of the year and we have a competition to see who's built the best car.”

As well as facilitating learning, the program teaches students more than just how to build and race a car.

"I enjoyed the massive rush of going around the track in the car,' said student Matthew Anderson. "I enjoyed watching it from start to finish. Seeing how it all came together was a good feeling.”

Students from DSHS say the experience has given them new-found confidence.

Allie Perkins was the first one on the track and, due to nerves, decided to aim for just two laps.

"I was the most nervous person to drive out there,” she said. "I ended up doing two laps but then kept on going because I got so excited about it. Just the thrill of it all got my confidence going.”

Mr Borrows said it was very different driving on a racetrack to driving on a road.

"And that's something we absolutely stress with them. Right through the whole program, there's a major focus on how it's great to have fun with cars but that it must be done in a responsible manner,” he said.