COLEG Meirion-Dwyfor students have reached the UK final of the F1 in Schools competition.

Team Come and Go, comprising engineering students from the Pwllheli Hafan campus, will compete in Rotherham next month after designing the fastest car in the North Wales heats.

There were also prizes for Pwllheli teams Hafan Hamsters, who won best engineering and design portfolio, and Yellow Peril, who were awarded best brand identity.

In total, seven teams represented Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor’s Pwllheli and Dolgellau campuses in the event at Denbigh Leisure Centre, competing against teams from across North Wales.

Five of the college’s teams were from the BTEC Level 3 Enhanced General Engineering course, and competed in the development class against Ysgol Tywyn, Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen, Denbigh, Connah's Quay, Prestatyn and Castell Alun high schools.

The other two were from the BTEC Level 2 General Engineering course for 14-16-year-olds, representing the college as well as their schools Ysgol Glan y Môr, Ysgol Botwnnog and Ysgol Eifionydd.

Teams of six students designed their cars at the college using computer-aided design package Fusion 360, before manufacturing them on a CNC Denford milling machine.

Then at the event in Denbigh, they raced the cars four times each over a flat, 20-metre track, reaching speeds in excess of 35 miles per hour.

The teams also had to secure sponsorship for their cars from local businesses, demonstrating their business and marketing acumen.

They were judged not only on how fast their car raced, but also on a verbal presentation to judges, and on their engineering and enterprise portfolios.

Team Come and Go, comprising Osian, Liam, Jac J, Jack T, Evan, Jack R and Gethin, finished second overall across the categories, qualifying for the UK final along with first-placed Team Elan from Denbigh High School.

Emlyn Evans, engineering lecturer at both the Pwllheli and Dolgellau campuses, said: “The F1 in schools competition is a valuable asset for teaching and enhancing STEM subjects such as engineering.

“It’s great to have the opportunity to have our students involved in such an engaging and rewarding project.

“All our learners have been working diligently on the design of their race cars to meet the strict technical regulations for the competition.

“They have worked well together and we are proud of their achievements.”

The student design engineers started learning to use Fusion 360 in September, using the package to create a rendered image and working drawings before manufacturing their F1 race cars in the development stage.