Team Wyvern Gears Up for National STEM Challenge

A team of young engineers from Bishopbriggs Academy is preparing to showcase their technical expertise on the national stage. Team Wyvern, a group of students competing in the prestigious F1 in Schools competition, has earned their place in the UK finals as one of three schools representing Scotland in March.

F1 in Schools is an international STEM challenge that pushes students to apply engineering, physics, and business acumen in designing, manufacturing, and racing miniature Formula 1 cars.

The competition demands precision, creativity, and an in-depth understanding of aerodynamics, with teams in a race to the finish to produce the fastest, most efficient model.

The Bishopbriggs Academy team consists of six young people from across the school’s year groups.

They are:

Alexander Cai, age 17, in 6th Year - Team Leader & Engineering

Dearbháil McGory, age 17, in 6th Year - Design Engineer

Tobi Falaye, age 15, in 4th Year - Finance & Sponsorship Manager

Arwen MacArthur, age 16, in 5th Year - Social Media & Marketing Manager

Jonah Brookes-Hefetz, age 17, in 6th Year - Manufacturing Engineer

Zara Ahmed, age 16, in 5th Year - Graphic Designer

Team Wyvern’s journey has seen success, with the crew securing a podium finish of second place at the regional finals and taking home the coveted ‘Fastest Car’ award.

Their current project incorporates cutting-edge aerodynamic principles, precision engineering, and light-weight materials to achieve optimal speed and stability. The team’s meticulous approach includes iterative design testing, computational fluid dynamics simulations, and precision machining of components to enhance their car’s performance.

The competition goes beyond science and engineering, with the team members responsible for sponsorship acquisition, marketing, and strategic branding to secure essential resources for their competitive journey.

Limited facilities within their school means they rely on external support to access specialist tools and equipment to optimise their car's performance. With the UK finals in Sheffield fast approaching, Team Wyvern faces the challenge of further refining their car’s performance while balancing logistics, travel arrangements, branding and all the associated expenses.

During a recent visit to Allied Vehicles’ Possilpark headquarters, Team Wyvern presented their project to a panel of staff and directors, including two of the company’s engineering managers. Recognising their passion, innovation, and technical expertise, Allied made the decision to sponsor the team with a £2,500 contribution, securing their path to the national finals.

Ms Mairi Gilfillan, the Operating Teacher from Bishopbriggs Academy who supervises the team, thanked Allied Vehicles for the sponsorship, saying:

“Bishopbriggs Academy are thrilled to partner with Allied Vehicles and have them join our journey towards achieving success in F1 in Schools. With their help and commitment to our team, they are not only providing us with resources and materials but also supporting the next generation of engineers.”

Team Leader Alexander Cai, in sixth year, explained the impact of the sponsorship on the Team’s operation:

“We’d like to say a massive thank you to Allied Vehicles for their generous support of the Wyvern Racing Team and helping to facilitate STEM opportunities in our community."

“Their commitment will not only help Team Wyvern Racing perform to the best of our abilities but also to inspire the next generation of engineers and innovators. With their partnership, we can strive to win the competition, create a lasting impact on STEM education, and inspire local students to pursue careers in STEM.”

The Bishopbriggs Academy team’s efforts highlight the dedication and ingenuity of young engineers striving to make an impact in STEM fields.

Commenting on the high quality of team’s work, Greg Barnard, Mechanical Engineering Manager at Allied Vehicles, said:

“To see this standard of research and engineering coming from young people of high school age is incredible, and the level of engineering, business and marketing skills that Team Wyvern presented to us was extremely impressive. It is refreshing to see a STEM initiative combining engineering theory with traditional and modern manufacturing methods, and, if these young people are any indication, the future of our industry is in safe hands. We are delighted to sponsor them in the UK finals and can’t wait to see them in action.”

With Allied’s support, Team Wyvern is on track to go head-to-head with the best teams in the UK for the top spot on the podium.