Loreto Swords students have formula for success

STUDENTS at a Northside school are gearing up for the national finals of a competition this month which involves designing and racing a miniature Formula One car.

Team Evolution, from Loreto College, Swords, were delighted to see their hard work in research and preparation for their project plan pay off when they got through to the final of the F1 in Schools Technology Challenge.

The national finals will take place on April 29 in Dublin Castle.

Team Evolution members Patrycja Krzemien, Lara Murphy, Ciara Greene and Adedoyin Obikoya were thrilled not only to get through the national finals but also to be announced Best Website at the event.

The international competition, which is run in Ireland, challenges secondary school students to design, build and race model Formula 1

?¢ cars powered by compressed air canisters.

Team Evolution will go head-to-head with teams throughout Ireland, testing the speed and engineering quality of the F1

?¢ model car, which they have been working on since September.

Using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software to model the car design specification, the team then collaborated with Blancherdstown IT F1

?¢ in
Schools Make Centre on its construction.

Team Evolution learned from technician Bernard Gaffney how to use specialised manufacturing equipment to convert the team’s 3D designs into a real model car.

Team Manager Patrycja Krzemien said the team has thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the challenge so far and is hopeful of a strong performance in the national finals.

If successful, the team will progress to the world finals in September in Singapore.