F1 in Schools, one of the largest STEM competitions in the UK, will host its National Final at the University of Leeds later this week (29 June – 01 July). More than 50 teams will assemble in Yorkshire for the chance to secure a podium finish and a place at the 2024 World Finals, running alongside the Singapore Grand Prix in September.

The competition enables participants from primary and secondary schools in the UK, aged 9-19, to 3D design, create and race miniature F1 cars. The 50 teams involved have come through the Regional Finals, which have taken place over the past nine months, and they will be assessed across a variety of areas including car speed, engineering quality, brand identity, verbal presentation skills and portfolio judging. They will also race their machines on a 20-metre race track.

The not-for-profit F1 in Schools organisation was founded in West Yorkshire in 2000 and is now active in 51 countries, with over 17,000 educational institutions taking part annually.

Supported by Formula 1, the initiative sends the best 60 regional and national teams to the World Finals in Singapore (8-14 September), where 18 category awards and university scholarships are up for grabs as well as the overall champions’ trophy.

Last year, a team of 17-year-old students from Melbourne, Australia won the coveted trophy and university scholarships to study at UCL Engineering in London.

You can follow the action on the F1 in Schools YouTube channel, which is broadcasting live from the event as of today (Thursday 29 June).