SIX students are gearing up to represent Bahrain at an alternative Formula One event in the UK later this year.
The St Christopher's Senior School students will compete at the 'World Championships of the F1 in Schools' competition in September.
Team Epic was crowned Bahrain National Champions yesterday during a ceremony at the school's premises in Isa Town.
It followed a day of fierce competition at the school, which was the only one in Bahrain to take part in the event.
Thirty students from seven teams entered the contest, in which they built miniature racing cars using super-light balsa wood.
The cars are only slightly larger than the palm of a hand, but still pack a punch -- being propelled down a track at speeds of up to 60kmph using a CO2 canister.
Students used technology similar to that on actual Formula One cars, including computer numerical control and 3D computer-aided design software to perfect the performance of their vehicles while fulfilling specific criteria.
However, Team Epic now has to find funding to help them pay for their travels to the UK for the World Championships.
"Because there are no other entries from Bahrain, this will make the winner the Bahrain National Champion," school design and technology head Simon Jones told the GDN.
"We're certain that the opportunity is there -- Gulf Air has sponsored our flights, which means a large part of cost has been covered already." Joining Mr Jones on the judging panel was school governor David Axtell and Bahrain International Circuit operations director Mark Hughes.
Team Epic consists of manager Liam Appleton, design engineers Aizat Sultan and Rhea Lobo, manufacturing engineer Matt Anthony, graphic designer Jean-Clive Bailey and resource manager Karishma Joseph.
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