Jersey schools rev up STEM Racing as program expands to primary students
Photo credit: Digital Jersey
Digital Jersey has expanded its STEM Racing initiative, a global competition where students design, build, and race small-scale Formula 1-style cars, to include primary school pupils for the first time.
Sponsored this year by technology firm C5 Alliance, the program now spans ages 9 to 18 and offers participants hands-on experience in engineering, teamwork, and business skills, with winning teams advancing from Jersey to the UK Nationals and potentially the World Finals.
The secondary program, now in its second year, involves students aged 11 to 18 creating compressed CO2-powered cars using computer-aided design and simulation software. Teams also work on branding, sponsorship, and marketing before competing in the Jersey Regionals in December. The top four teams will progress to the UK Nationals, with the chance to reach the F1 in Schools World Finals.
The new primary program is open to students aged 9 to 11, with entries starting in September. Teams will design and build smaller cars made mainly from paper and card, powered by compressed CO2 canisters. Regional events for primary schools are scheduled for early 2026, with mentoring provided by older students.
Tony Moretta, CEO at Digital Jersey, says, “After a successful launch last year, we’re really pleased to be able to expand the STEM Racing initiative this year to include both primary and secondary school students across Jersey.
“The program offers an incredible hands-on opportunity for young people to develop vital STEM and business skills in a fun, engaging, and highly creative environment. With the chance to represent the Island on a national and even global stage, it’s a fantastic way to inspire the next generation of innovators, engineers, and entrepreneurs.”
Matthew Corbin, CEO at C5 Alliance, says, “This program is ultimately all about nurturing imagination in a fun environment and we’re really pleased to be supporting it this year.
“Our business is committed to nurturing the next generation of digital talent and we recognize the importance of developing STEM skills in schools – in particular as it is being rolled out across a broader age range. The program offers a really valuable learning opportunity for local students with the potential to open up doors for them in the Island’s dynamic and varied technology sector in the future.”
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