FOLLOWING on from an outstanding season last year, when the students from Sir James Smith’s Community School, Camelford, became Greenpower International champions, their young team is forging ahead again in style.

This year’s Greenpower South West race heat was held recently at Newquay airfield, the most challenging track in the series, and Sir Jim’s entered with their ‘Retro Rocket’ car. The Greenpower Education Trust’s objective is to advance education in the subjects of sustainable engineering and technology to young people.

One of the trust’s projects is an electric car challenge which requires students, guided by their teachers and an industry mentor, to design, build and then race an electric car.

Greenpower works with 500 schools and over 8,000 students around the UK.Sir Jim’s organising teacher Ben Langton explained that practice went well, with new Year 7 drivers Jacob Dubey and Joe Walker learning the controls and getting on pace.

Caitlin Cox, another new driver, showed great promise with some very smooth fast laps with several passes. Race one was exciting with the team managing a podium spot in third overall, but gearing was swapped for the second race.

After some tense moments a fast changeover gave the team an edge, which was needed to catch the leading team, Plymouth School for Girls.

Mr Langton explained that near the finish the whole team gathered, willing Retro Rocket on, which proved to be a winning tactic as it took the chequered flag in first. This meant the team had won their class, beating every other car in the class above them too.

They returned to school not only with high spirits, three big trophies and a bunch of medals, but also a qualification to the international finals in October.