A dedicated group of six S4 pupils from James Gillespie’s High School are racing their way into the national final of the global STEM Racing Challenge.
STEM Racing is a worldwide competition that inspires young people aged 9–19 to design, build, test, and race miniature cars, putting them on the fast track to STEM success.
The team, Cirrus Racing, formed in 2024, comprises of Olly Montgomery (15), Calvin Martin (15), Erin Booth (16), Archer Chen (15), Calum Wignall (15), and Seamus Eglinton (15). Last year, they placed second in Scotland, outpacing hundreds of pupils from across the country.
The national finals will take place from 24th–26th March at the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham, where over 100 teams will compete to become UK champions.
Participants are assessed on design, speed, pit displays, verbal presentation, project management, and brand identity, culminating in the thrilling race of their expertly engineered cars down a 20-metre track. Students also gain invaluable opportunities to engage with industry professionals.
Each team needs to raise over £2,000 to fund their route to the final and Cirrus Racing have already secured fantastic support from large technical firm NXP ( https://www.nxp.com ), local design consultancy business GoMerry Studio (https://www.gomerry.co.uk ), local architecture firm Jefcoate Anderson (https://jefcoate-anderson.com ) and neighbourhood restaurant and bar McLarens on the Corner (https://mclarensonthecorner.co.uk ).
As Cirrus Racing heads towards the national finals, the team is actively encouraging businesses and individuals to become part of their exciting journey.
Those interested in sponsoring or collaborating are invited to get in touch directly and help support Edinburgh’s next generation of STEM talent.
Contact sponsorship@cirrusracing.uk