Wonderful win for North Leamington School’s F1 team

The Whittle Wonders, of North Leamington School, won the F1 Class, Fastest F1 car Award and Innovative Thinking Award at the Central F1 in Schools Regional Final, booking their place at the National Finals which take place at the Big Bang Science Fair at NEC, Birmingham in March.

The team, is made up of manager Thomas Bradford, 15, testing engineer Harry Birch, 16, Manufacturing Engineer Ryan McLaren, 15, and Design Engineer Thomas Govern 15.

Thomas Bradford said: “We won, I’m very happy about that.

“I think the team did really well and we’re really looking forward to going to the finals in March.

“I think we’ll probably make some changes for the Nationals.

“We’ll improve on stuff and make it better.”

The team, accompanied by teacher Bob Hodge, is sponsored by Impetus Automotive in Warwick, which donated £500 towards the project.

It pitched for the sponsorship in December as one of a number of qualifying activities for entry into the competition.

Its presentation to Chris White MP and members of Impetus Automotive’s senior management team, included slides on its design strategy, details of production as well as ideas for marketing and sponsorship.

Mr White, who worked in the industry prior to taking up a political career, told the four youngsters that engineering was in his DNA and that he was immensely proud to have been offered the opportunity at Impetus to see an outstanding presentation from a group of young engineers of the future.

He told them: “What I have seen today is university-level work of tremendous sophistication. It was absolutely breathtaking and I wish you the very best of luck with the competition.”

The team is named after the late turbojet engine inventor Sir Frank Whittle, who once lived in Leamington and attended Milverton School and Leamington College For Boys.

One of the jet engines invented by Sir Frank is on display at North Leamington School.