Scarborough’s SBA Unity Racing claims third at F1-supported Aramco STEM Racing World Finals

SBA Unity Racing from Scarborough UTC finishes on the podium at international competition in Singapore.

SBA Unity Racing, a student team from Scarborough UTC, has secured third place at the Aramco STEM Racing World Finals 2025, held in Singapore. The global competition brought together 82 teams from across 30 countries, challenging students to design, engineer, and race miniature Formula 1-style cars powered by compressed air.

The World Finals are run by STEM Racing, a not-for-profit social enterprise that promotes hands-on learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through applied design and innovation.

Podium finish and technical honors for UK students

The Scarborough team’s car placed third overall, alongside additional honors including second in the Best Engineered Car Award supported by Atlassian Williams Racing and the FIA Scrutineering Award, supported by the FIA and Mitutoyo. The team was also shortlisted for the Research & Development and Pit Display Awards.

Jack, the team’s 18-year-old manager, says: “It’s been an amazing experience in Singapore for this competition, and we’re thrilled to have made it to the podium. The other teams were so good, it was really tough to beat so many of them, but we had a good car and we worked hard on improving the engineering of it, so winning the FIA Scrutineering Award and coming second in the Best Engineered Car was a testament to the time we put into the car’s development and meeting all the rules and regulations. Reaching the podium was our goal so we’re really happy.”

Global competition highlights innovation and career pathways

Australia’s Lunar team from Brighton Grammar School took the top spot, with Germany’s Blue Wolves placing second. The Scarborough students’ success marks a standout performance for the UK in a field that included over 80 international entries.

During the event, ten students were awarded places in the Komatsu-Williams Engineering Academy, including SBA Unity’s Jack Metcalfe. The academy provides mentorship and engineering experience through partnerships with Komatsu and Williams Racing.

The competition featured categories spanning engineering, sustainability, design, enterprise, and racing performance. Spain’s LYNX team recorded the fastest lap at 1.073 seconds, while Mexico’s Tonal Tech won the Knockout Racing Finals.

Andrew Denford, Founder and CEO of STEM Racing, says: “This has been one of the most competitive and inspiring World Finals we’ve ever held. Congratulations to all the teams for producing such amazing work; every single person should be proud of what they’ve accomplished—your passion, sportsmanship and professionalism reflect the very best of your countries.”