STEM Racing (formerly F1 in Schools) is an international STEM competition endorsed by Formula 1 for secondary school students.
Groups of 3–6 students have to design and manufacture a miniature F1 car using CAD/CAM and CAE design tools. The cars are powered by CO2 cartridges and are attached to a track by a nylon wire. They are timed from the moment they are launched to when they pass the finish line.The New Straits Times Online
The cars have to follow extensive regulations, in a similar fashion to Formula 1 (e.g. the wheels of the car must be in contact with the track at all times). The cars are raced on a 20m long track with four lanes (in the Aramco STEM Racing World Finals, generally 2 lanes), to allow two to four cars to be raced simultaneously. CFD software called F1 Virtual Wind TunnelDenford Website - Virtual Wind Tunnel was designed by Denford Ltd., who are also the organisers and founders of STEM Racing specifically for the challenge, although teams mostly tend to use other packages such as the Ansys Workbench or Autodesk Simulation suites.
the competition was operational in over 40 countries. The competition was first introduced in the UK in 1999. The competition's aim is to introduce younger people to engineering in a fun environment. The competition is held annually, with Regional and National Finals. The overall winners of the National Finals are invited to compete at the World Finals, which are held at a different location each year, usually held in conjunction with a Formula One Grand Prix. In the UK competition there are 3 classes of entry: Professional Class aimed at 11- to 19-year-olds; Development Class aimed at 11- to 19-year-olds in their first year; and Entry Class aimed at 11- to 14-year-olds. , the STEM Racing World Champions are Lunar from Brighton Grammar School in Australia.
The STEM Racing World Record was set in 2016 by the Australian team Infinitude and is 0.916 seconds.
After safety issues concerning the use of extended canister chambers coupled with the Launch Energy Recovery System (LERS), the controversial device was banned globally from the 2017 World Finals season onwards, after being innovated in 2014 by Colossus F1.
Denford Ltd. unveiled a new track and timing system that debuted at the 2017 World Finals. All components are manufactured in-house, at lower cost than the previous Pitsco-produced track. The track's launching mechanism has had numerous reliability issues since its introduction.
In 2018, the competition's logo was updated to incorporate Formula One's updated logo, and the Bernie Ecclestone World Champions trophy was replaced with a new trophy incorporating the new logo and the car of the 2017 World Champions, Hyperdrive.
The 2020 F1 in Schools World Finals was postponed twice due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Finals 2020–21 was held as a virtual event in the UK in June 2021, with 43 competing teams.
In 2024, Formula 1 announced that the competition would be rebranded from F1 in Schools to STEM Racing.
Aspects of the competition
Specifications judging Specifications judging is a detailed inspection process where the race car is assessed for compliance with the STEM Racing Technical Regulations. Scrutineering is conducted within the confines of parc fermé, where judges use a series of specially manufactured gauges and accurate measuring tools to check cars' compliance.
All of the rules and regulations season can be found at the STEM Racing website.
Engineering judging The scheduled engineering judging interview session focuses on the application of CAD/CAM analysis, CAD data organisation, orthographic drawing, 3D render and use of CNC machining. This is an informal interview where judges ask the team to demonstrate their CAD / CAM work and query teams on what they have done.
Portfolio and pit display judging
Each team of students is required to produce an enterprise portfolio, engineering portfolio as well as a pit display. The portfolios are A3 size and should contain information about the team, their car design and manufacturing process, marketing techniques, project management, teamwork and team identity. Teams are given an area to set up a pit display which is judged alongside their design portfolio by a panel of judges.
Verbal presentation judging In advance of the competition, teams prepare a timed verbal presentation to present to a panel of judges, outlining their project. Teams usually use a PowerPoint presentation/Canva Presentation as a visual aid when presenting to the judges. The length of the verbal presentation varies depending on the level of the competition. At World Finals Level teams are required to prepare a 10-minute presentation.
Racing
Teams race their cars against each other on the 20-metre STEM Racing competition track. Points are awarded for reaction time racing as well as knockout racing.
Defining car features Regulations vary from regional to national to world finals, but the basic features, resembling a real F1 car, are consistent.
Front and rear wing
The cars have to include a front wing that does not cover the wheels if seen from the side or the top in the technical drawing. The front wing can not cover the wheels higher than 15 mm relative to the track surface and must not be physically obstructed by any other components of the car. The minimum wingspan of the front wing is 50 mm and its thickness should be between 2 mm and 6 mm. To allow for airflow, the front wing must have at least 5 mm of clear air space to any other part of the car or track surface.
The rear wing cannot cover the rear wheels if seen from above and must not be physically obstructed by any other component when viewed from the front. The rear wing must have a single, unbroken minimum span of 50 mm and a thickness between 2 mm to 6 mm. Similar to the front wing, to allow for airflow the rear wing must have a minimum of 5 mm clear air space to any other part of the car or track surface.
Cartridge chamber
The cars feature a chamber to hold the CO2 cartridge. It has to be parallel to the track surface. There are many other safety regulations regarding this, for example how far out it can protrude.
Wheels
The cars have to include four wheels with a given scope of width and radius that are in contact with the surface of the track at all times. The wheels must be entirely visible from the right or left side and from the top. There is a 15 mm long exclusion zone behind the width of the front wheels.
Halo
The STEM Racing regulations later included an additional structure known as the "Halo", a standard structure across all STEM Racing Cars in the World Finals, introduced into the Indian and Australian National Finals in 2025. The Halo is the New Standard Deceleration system, which uses a rubber band to catch the car after the finish line
Car body
The cars have to incorporate a virtual cargo horizontal to the track surface in between the centre of the axis of the wheels. This renders many "catamaran" designs insufficient. Cars have to be symmetrical to a vertically oriented reference plane. Cars also feature side boxes large enough to hold the STEM Racing decal. In 2025, a "Legal Ballast", a cavity under the Halo assembly has been allowed, which can be used for weight reduction, or to house fishing weights to increase the car to the absolute minimum weight of 48g.
STEM Racing World Finals results Generally, Regional/State Champions are invited to compete at their country's National Finals, with the in-country organising authority inviting other teams to the National Finals through the use of wildcards. The National Champions are invited to represent their country at the World Finals. The winning team receives the STEM Racing World Championship Trophy. The World Finals podium places and Best Engineered Car are outlined below.
Venue World Champions Second place Third Place Best Engineered Car 2004 CoventryEEF : Wanted - Judge for the International F1 Team in Schools Final! TurboBloomsburg High School (PA) FlashSt Alban's College Thunder Down UnderCheltenham Girls High School (NSW) & Noosa District State High (QLD) Thunder Down UnderCheltenham Girls High (NSW) & Noosa District State High School (QLD) 2006 BirminghamDenford Website - F1 in Schools International Finals 05/06 StingersTrinity Grammar School FlashSt Alban's College TurboBloomsburg High School (PA) StingersTrinity Grammar School 2007 MelbourneF1 | Formula 1 - Ulster team takes F1 in Schools crown - ITV Sport FUGAColeraine Academical Institution LightingBlairgowrie High School Mercurial AceSMK Convent Bukit Nanas STEM F1Trinity College 2008 Kuala Lumpur PulseDevonport High School for Boys GoshawkTrinity Christian School (ACT) Impulse F1Barker College Impulse F1Barker College 2009 London The Koni KatsSt. David's Secondary School Redline RacingTrinity Christian School AC RacingNoosa District State High School (QLD) & Miles MacDonell (MB) Redline RacingTrinity Christian School 2010 Singapore Unitus RacingSoutheast High School (FL) & James Madison Middle School (VA) Zer0.9Pine Rivers State High School & The Indian High School, Dubai Aixtreme RacingEinhard-Gymnasium Aachen Basilisk PerformanceSebastopol College 2011 Kuala Lumpur PentaGlidersBrooks High School BETAGREENGymnasium Grootmoor Unitus RacingSoutheast High School (FL) & James Madison Middle School (VA) PentaGlidersBrooks High School 2012 Abu Dhabi Cold FusionBrighton Secondary School Team Ignite Rush Robert May's School Cold FusionBrighton Secondary School 2013 Austin A1 RacingPhoenix P-12 Community College (VIC) & Pine Rivers State High School (QLD) Allegiance RacingSoutheast High School (FL) Unlimited AccelerationLessing-Gymnasium Winnenden (BW) Bardahl RacingSt David's Holy Faith Secondary School 2014 Abu Dhabi Colossus F1907.7 PointsRobert May's School Gamma Raycing844.2 PointsMagdalene Catholic High School (NSW) Boreas Racing840.5 PointsGymnasium An der Stenner Iserlohn (NRW) Colossus F1Robert May's School 2015 Singapore Union Racing InternationalAlexander-von-Humboldt Gymnasium Greifswald (MV) & Lexington High School (MA) Mustangs Team AIB Racing Laminar Racing 2016 Austin Infinitude837.8 PointsBrighton Secondary School & St Bede's College Infinite Racing852.3 PointsMandoulides School Endeavour770.5 PointsGymnasium Unterrieden Sindelfingen (BW), Karl-Friedrich-Gymnasium (BW) & Kurfürst-Friedrich-Gymnasium (BW) Knight HawksThe Indian High School, Dubai 2017 Kuala Lumpur Hyperdrive906.7 PointsTrinity Grammar School / Aurora887.5 PointsBrighton Secondary School & Fichte-Gymnasium Hagen Pioneers873.0 PointsGymnasium Kronshagen HyperdriveTrinity Grammar School 2018 Singapore Horizon878.4 PointsBrighton Secondary School CJJ AutoVinco860.0 PointsSt. Brigid's College, Loughrea Perspective834.7 PointsPalmetto High School HorizonBrighton Secondary School 2019 Abu Dhabi Evolve UK855.5 PointsQueen Elizabeth's Grammar School Fusion826.8 PointsGymnasium Unterrieden Sindelfingen Aflex Hose Centurion Racing820.2 PointsRishworth School AscensionMount View High School & Penrith Christian School 2020(21) United Kingdom Britannia Red882.1 PointsRobert May's School Quintolux834.0 PointsSt. Brigid's College, Loughrea Nebula792.9 PointsWesley College Britannia RedRobert May's School 2021(22) Silverstone Hydron880.0 PointsTrinity Grammar School, Kew BLACKOUT856.0 PointsSt John's College, Cardiff Blaze827.1 PointsThe British School, New Delhi HydronTrinity Grammar School, Kew2023 Singapore Recoil Racing846.5 Points Propulsion834.9 PointsCharles Campbell College Nightingale776.3 PointsRobert May's School, Hampshire https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/blog/team-nightingale-f1-in-schools-world-finals-2023/ PropulsionCharles Campbell College2024 Jeddah evolut1on867.3 Points Array811.2 Points Lunar808.3 PointsBrighton Grammar School OryxIthra2025