Plymouth Students Speed to Success at Goodwood Motor Circuit

This weekend (12th and 13th October) the GreenPower Racing Team from All Saints Academy Plymouth (ASAP), part of the Ted Wragg Trust, proudly represented the school at the prestigious International GreenPower Finals held at the iconic Goodwood Motor Circuit. 

GreenPower is a global initiative that challenges school children to design, build, and race electric single-seat race cars.  After securing a podium finish in their last race, the All Saints team, consisting of 12 students aged 11 to 15, qualified for the finals, placing them in the top 15% of schools nationwide.

Racing at the historic Goodwood circuit was an awe-inspiring experience for the young team.  Known for its rich motorsport history, the venue provided a thrilling backdrop as 130 teams from across the UK and abroad gathered to make final adjustments to their GreenPower cars.  The All Saints team arrived well-prepared after a restful stay at a local bunkhouse, equipped with knowledge and strategies to handle the smooth and fast turns of the famous track.

The finals featured two intense 90-minute races, requiring teams to execute driver changes twice throughout each race.  All the students had the opportunity to both drive and support as part of the pit crew, showcasing teamwork and collaboration. The event gave the students a chance to observe and evaluate the best GreenPower cars on display, gaining valuable insights into design innovations and performance enhancements.

The objective of the competition is to cover as much distance as possible, with a focus on developing efficient, lightweight, and aerodynamic cars.  The All Saints team demonstrated exceptional composure under pressure, executing swift pit lane driver changes and addressing technical issues with impressive problem-solving skills.  Their teamwork and determination, honed over a season of races, were evident throughout the event.

Paige, aged 12, shared her excitement: "It was so exhilarating driving on such a smooth and famous track. Our cars managed to stay fast until the very end, and I loved overtaking so many other talented teams. I’m excited to be part of the team next year, and I can’t wait to see how we can make the cars even faster."

In their first appearance at the international finals, the All Saints team achieved an impressive 27th place out of 49 in their class.  Energised by the experience, they returned from the weekend with a host of ideas for further engineering development.

As the new season begins, a freshly selected team is ready to take on the challenge, following a rigorous application process.  

Scott Simpson Horne, Headteacher at All Saints Academy Plymouth said:

“I am so proud of the All Saints team for their performance at Goodwood this weekend.  Taking part in the competition was a brilliant opportunity for our students to work together as a team and design something really innovative.  

“I would also like to say a big thank you to Plymouth CityBus for their continued support and for making these incredible opportunities possible for our students.”

Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said:

“Many congratulations to the All Saints team.  It’s clear how hard they have worked as being in the top 15% of teams nationally is a huge achievement.  I hope they all thoroughly enjoyed their weekend at Goodwood, it sounds as though it was an experience that was as exciting as it was educational!”