Weald School wins National Green Power Finals
Students had a double celebration on Sunday 12 October after coming first and third in the finals of the Green Power Car Challenge held at The Goodwood Race Circuit. The event which involves over 500 cars and schools from both Britain and abroad reached a climax on Sunday as competitors raced their purpose-built vehicles around the legendary race track. Schools qualified for a place in the final through races held at race tracks all across the country during the last year.
Students had a double celebration on Sunday 12 October after coming first and third in the finals of the Green Power Car Challenge held at The Goodwood Race Circuit. The event which involves over 500 cars and schools from both Britain and abroad reached a climax on Sunday as competitors raced their purpose-built vehicles around the legendary race track. Schools qualified for a place in the final through races held at race tracks all across the country during the last year. The series culminated in a Grand Final at Goodwood when the top 77 cars lined up on the start line. The Weald was one of very few schools which entered two cars, (“The Black Bullett” and “The Purple Predator”, and where both cars qualified for the finals.
The actual final takes place as two one-and-a-half hour races. Each car is only allowed one set of batteries, but must use at least three drivers. In first race The Weald finished in first and third position. In the second race our cars finished second and third. The total combined times clinched the top spot for the top car, “The Black Bullett”, with the second car, “The Purple Predator”, coming in third place. Headteacher Peter Woodman commented, “This is a magnificent result for our students and all those involved. The team has worked hard over a period of months to make very small improvements that has given us marginal gains. It is these improvements that resulted in the win. It has been very much a team effort”.
The team has been supported over a long period of time by enthusiastic and hard-working group of both Weald staff and fathers of the girls and boys involved. One of the fathers, Simon Banks, commented, “It has required a huge commitment, but it has been fantastic to see all the hard work pay off.”
The event has grown in recent years and this year received entries from the USA, South Africa, Portugal and the Republic of Ireland. The event welcomed a variety of celebrities including Lord March, the owner of the Goodwood track. Jason Bradbury, one of the hosts of Channel 5’s “The Gadget Show” presented the prizes.
To see a gallery of pictures from the day click here.