Harlem United F1 In Schools team to compete at World Level

f F1 in Schools World Finals 2016 will feature impressive grid of teams.

Craig Todd,Harlem United F1 in Schools

Lead Advisor

Harlem United from Harlem High School, a team of F1 in Schools students is one of three teams from the United States vying for the honor and pride of their country to be crowned F1 in Schools World Champions 2016.

The Harlem United team formed less than two short years ago. The team consists of members; Jazzamyn Benson (team manager), Damon Adams (design engineer), Darrius Kulbeck (manufacturing engineer), Terron Gray (marketing & social manager), Denise Stanley (graphic designer), Adrian Kulbeck (resource manager) and Hunter Gray (support staff). Team advisors are Craig Todd and Briayan Flores.

The team has been extremely successful during this short time period; taking home back-2-back State Championship titles and placing third in the National qualifying them for this year's World Championships.

The team has put in many hours preparing for the competition during their summer break, and a great deal of overtime on weekends and after school since the school year began. Every member has a duty/job that they must fulfill for the team to succeed. To attend the World Competition the team had to market themselves and find sponsors to cover the $39,000 cost of expenses needed to compete and attend.

The F1 in Schools World Finals 2016 has all the ingredients of an event that is worthy of its place alongside the 2016 FORMULA ONE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX. Austin, Texas, will host a group of over 500 people, with students, teachers, media, judges and organizers all arriving in the city next week for this prestigious global education challenge.

The F1 in Schools World Finals 2016 is the pinnacle of F1 in Schools, drawing together the best F1 in Schools students from 26 countries to compete for the ultimate prize in this global competition, to be crowned F1 in Schools World Champions. Reaching the World Finals has been a journey that teams will have been on for at least one year, and in many cases, two or three years. Their hard work and passion for the challenge of F1 in Schools has already brought them success in their home countries and next week they do battle with other national winners.

Damon Adams from Harlem United says of heading to Austin, "When we started F1, I never imagined that we would be competing at the World level. I am looking forward to meeting other competitors from around the world and having a good time with our team".

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 modelling 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, marketing plan, their cars and portfolio, as well as having prepared a 10 minute verbal presentation for the judges. The cars race on a 20 metre track, with the cars covering the distance in around one second.

Andrew Denford, Founder and Chairman, F1 in Schools, says of the upcoming F1 in Schools World Finals, "This will be our 12th World Finals, with the USA hosting the event for the second time, so we know that we have a world-class venue and a great week to look forward to. For all the World Finals teams this is a very busy and probably stressful time as they put the finishing touches to their displays, portfolios and cars, but I can assure every student that all the pressure and challenges they've had to overcome will be have been worth it for the experience they will have in Austin. There will be more hard work on the competition days, but there will also be life-changing opportunities, meeting peers from around the globe, forming life-long friendships and enjoying the warm hospitality of Austin. I look forward to seeing you all, or as they say in Texas, 'See y'all' next week"

The 2016 World Finals is being held from 16th to 19th October at Hyatt Regency Hotel in Austin, Texas, USA with three days of intense competition between 39 teams from 26 countries. After all their hard work the students will be rewarded with a trip to Circuit of The Americas on Thursday for a pit lane walk and the opportunity to attend the 2016 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX.

The F1 in Schools World Finals 2016 takes place with the assistance of a host of supporters including Formula One Management, Circuit of The Americas, The Institution of Engineering and Technology, Autodesk, City University London, UCL Engineering and Luke 1977.

You can follow the Harlem United F1 in Schools team on http://www.harlemunitedmt.com or http://www.facebook.com/harlemunitedmt