Schaeffler sponsors teams at F1 in Schools World Finals

The F1 in Schools Challenge is an international competition set out to provide an exciting yet challenging educational experience through the magnetic appeal of Formula One. Open to all secondary schools, colleges and youth groups, the aim of the competition is to design and manufacture the fastest CO2-powered model racing cars (dragsters). The competition is the only global multi-disciplinary challenge for students aged 9-19 and is now recognised as the World's largest STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) competition. Student teams compete against each other in a national championship to determine the fastest car and best-engineered car. National winners then progress to the World Finals.

At the 2016 World Finals, each team had to design and construct the fastest miniature Formula One car of the Future. Each team raced its car on a 20-metre track, aiming to cover the distance in around one second. As well as their cars, each team also had to bring along their pit display and portfolio, as well as present a verbal account of their progress to the judges.

Schaeffler subsidiary The Barden Corporation (UK) Ltd supplied two UK-based student teams - Kinetikos Racing from Inveralmond Community High School in Scotland, and Enigma UK from Robert May's School in Odiham, Hampshire - with super precision hybrid ceramic bearings for the four wheels of the racing cars. These bearings are miniature, hybrid ceramic bearings with a bore diameter of just 3.175mm and an outside diameter of 6.35mm. A dry-lubricated bearing cage and ceramic balls were selected to reduce friction. In addition, Schaeffler's Schweinfurt plant sponsored German team Fast Tech Crew from Alexander-von-Humboldt-Gymnasium.

A total of 39 teams from 23 different countries took part in the F1 in Schools World Finals held over three days in Austin, Texas. A total of 23 awards were presented at the Gala Dinner, which boasted a star-studded audience of Formula One team representatives and drivers.

Prize winners

The three Schaeffler-sponsored teams all received prizes. Enigma UK from Robert May's School in Hampshire were the best-performing British team, finishing fourth overall and also won the Enterprise Portfolio Award. Kinetikos Racing from Inveralmond Community High School in Scotland won two prizes: the Pit Display Award sponsored by Scuderia Toro Rosso, and the Team Identity Award sponsored by Ferrari. German team Fast Tech Crew won two prizes, the Image of the Week Award and Social Media Award.

Katelyn Chelberg, Team Manager at Enigma UK states: "It's been great to receive such overwhelming support from both business and industry. We've been really impressed with the quality of the wheel bearings we received from Barden. In the National Finals, the car was fitted with cheaper, inferior bearings but for the World Finals, the superior quality of the Barden bearings helped to improve the speed of the car significantly. We were also nominated for the Best Engineered Car award for the high quality of finish of our car and for the high quality of the wheel assembly."

Zak Brown, Business & Enterprise Manager of Kinetikos Racing comments: "The support from Barden Bearings has been fantastic in helping our team reach our goal of participating at the F1 in Schools World Finals. When we began looking to source our bearings for our World Finals car, our research took us to Barden, who were exceptionally supportive once we made contact with the business. Not only did Barden sponsor us with bearings that we required for our race and display cars, but they also provided technical guidance in relation to how best to fit and maintain the bearings to help our car achieve our target speed. We are exceptionally grateful to the business for their support and providing such high quality bearings for our participation at the World Finals."

As part of the super precision division of Schaeffler, The Barden Corporation (UK) Limited specialises in the design and manufacture of high-precision rolling bearings and integrated bearing assemblies for complex or critical applications in industries such as the aerospace, defence, medical and high performance pump sectors. Bearings for this sector have to withstand harsh conditions: extreme temperatures, demanding load profiles and high speeds and can be custom engineered for specific applications. Go to www.bardenbearings.co.uk to learn more.