Whilst we’re on the theme, the F1 in Schools World Finals 2016 was won by a student team from Athens, Greece with Infinite Racing from Mandoulides School taking the World Champions crown and lifting the Bernie Ecclestone World Champions trophy – the first team from Greece to be on the World Finals podium.

The team won an impressive haul of trophies, with the Pressure Challenge Award, the Knockout Competition Award and Team Website Award.

Australian team, Infinitude were runners-up to Infinite Racing, with Endeavour from Germany taking the third place podium spot. A total of 23 awards were presented at the glittering Awards Celebration Gala Dinner with a star-studded audience of Formula 1 team representatives, drivers and paddock personalities. The World Champions win coveted City University London and UCL Engineering scholarships.

F1 in Schools challenges students to create their own Formula One team which is commissioned to design, construct and race the fastest miniature Formula One Car of the Future; a 21cm long scale model built from the F1 in Schools model block and powered by a compressed air cylinder. Each team of between three and six students creates a ‘pit’ display and showcases their work in developing their race car. At the World Finals each team brings along a pit display, their cars and portfolio, as well as having prepared a verbal presentation for the judges. The cars race on a 20 metre track, with the cars covering the distance in around one second.

The 2016 World Finals was held this week at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Austin, Texas with three days of intense competition between 39 teams from 23 countries.

Full list of award winners:

World Champions supported by Formula One Management, City University London, UCL Engineering
INFINITE RACING -Mandoulides Schools – Greece

2nd Place supported by Circuit of the Americas
Infinitude – Brighton Secondary School & St Bede’s College – Australia

3rd Place supported by The IET
Endeavour – Gymnasium Unterrieden Sindelfingen, Karl-Friedrich-Gymnasium Mannheim, Kurfürst-Friedrich-Gymnasium Heidelberg – Germany

Best Engineered Car Award supported by Williams Racing
Knight Hawks – The Indian High School, Dubai – United Arab Emirates

Research and Development Award supported by McLaren Honda
Knight Hawks – The Indian High School, Dubai – United Arab Emirates

The Best International Collaboration Team Award supported by Shell
Fusion Racing – Pelizaeus Gymnasium Paderborn & Wilmington Grammar School for Boys – Germany & UK

Innovative Thinking Award supported by Renault Sport F1 Team
Panteras Racing – Universidad Panamericana Preparatoria – Mexico

Team Sponsorship and Marketing Award supported by Manor Racing
Tachyon – Denbigh High School – Wales

Women in Motorsport Award supported by The FIA Women in Motorsport Commission
Tachyon – Denbigh High School – Wales

Team Website Award supported by Fantastic Media
INFINITE RACING, Mandoulides Schools – Greece

Image of the Week Award supported by Sutton Images
Fast Tech Crew – Alexander-von-Humboldt-Gymnasium – Germany

Knockout Competition Winners supported by Haas F1 Team
INFINITE RACING – Mandoulides Schools – Greece

Social Media Award supported by ID PR & Marketing
Fast Tech Crew – Alexander-von-Humboldt-Gymnasium – Germany

Enterprise Portfolio Award supported by F1 in Schools
Enigma UK – Robert May’s School – UK

Verbal Presentation Award supported by Pirelli
Tachyon – Denbigh High School – Wales

Pit Display Award supported by Scuderia Toro Rosso
Kinetikos Racing – Inveralmond Community High School – Scotland

Pressure Challenge Award supported by Autodesk
INFINITE RACING, Mandoulides Schools – Greece

Outstanding Sportsmanship Award supported by Sahara Force India Formula One Team
Airy Eagles – HTBLA Steyr & Vienna International School – Austria

Team Identity Award supported by Scuderia Ferrari
Kinetikos Racing – Inveralmond Community High School – Scotland

Fastest Car Award supported by Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team Infinitude – Brighton Secondary School & St Bede’s College -Australia

Chair of Judges Recognition of Achievement Award supported by Red Bull Racing
Harlem United – Harlem High School – US

Scrutineering Award supported by F1 in Schools
Supermac’s Racing – St. Brigid’s College, Ireland

Best Newcomer Award supported by Sauber F1 Team
Finkas -Markham College – Peru