KUCHING: On Tuesday (October 1), Team Prime Racing from SMK Penrissen unexpectedly emerged as the winner of the F1 in the Schools State Level Competition to which the team had not anticipated the victory.
The team, comprising Hannah Gabriella Benidid Dekson (team leader and resource manager), George Ruben Botto Richard (design manager), Esther Isabel Hilbert (manufacturing engineer) and Elisa Chelsea (marketing manager and graphic manager) not only emerged as the champion, but is set to represent the state in the upcoming national level F1 in School sometime next year.
The team designed their car called “Prime” which according to Hannah herself, was an improvement from their previous car project, smaller size but more towards the aerodynamic, switching up the rear wings, in accordance to the rules and regulations of the whole car design.
Hannah revealed that the project was done at the very last minute.
“Because initially we were struggling with the car designs on the software, as it has a bit of a malfunction, and the technical judges said there was a lot of errors, things that we should not do and not allowed to do, so we have switch up all over again.
“That is why from the moment the name of our team is being called on stage as the champion, we were not expecting it,” she told Sarawak Tribune.
For the car design, Hannah stated that she and her team wanted to make it even better than last year, as they aimed to win, but for the category of the fastest car award.
“A bit of history, we actually won several awards during last year’s competition which was pit display and fastest car award.
“And then we actually decided to quit, we wanted to quit, but then our teacher was like, don’t give up.
“So, we joined it again, and then this time we worked extra hard,” she said
In term of preparations for the next competition, she added that the team aims to improve on the presentation of the project.
“Because, to be honest, that was the one we were struggling with the most.
“And then, hopefully we can improve the whole project elements such the portfolio, pit display and turn it into something that is much better and on to the next level,” she said.
Hannah hopes that the team could also represent Malaysia in the same competition sometime in the future.
“We always want to aim higher,” she added.
The F1 in School State Level competition was officiated by Deputy Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee.
For the record, F1 in School is a project offering a way for students to learn Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related subjects in such an exciting way to achieve great results.
The team must consist of three to six students aged 13 to 17, and they must first design an F1 car using the 3D CAD Software to the specification.
The team also must analyse the aerodynamics and it must be based on drag coefficiency in a virtual wind tunnel using Computational Fluid Dynamics Software (CFD).
Next, using 3D CAM (Computer Aided Manufacture) software, the team evaluates the most efficient machining strategy to make the car.
After that, the team needs to test the car in wind and smoke tunnels, and then the car can race against the competitors to come out a winner.
