Riverside High School eNewsletter

F1 Schools Nationals

All School F1 teams experienced a hectic period between the State Championships and the National Finals.

Over the last few weeks of 2023 and start of 2024, there were many hours put into meeting all of the requirements needed to be competitive at the highest level, and this was the goal of all teams.

The work included producing more complex portfolios, seeking industry collaboration and financial support and significantly, designing a car which would be technically perfect and fast. A late rule change requiring the integration of a halo into their design was an additional complexity in the work completed.

Over the last few weeks of 2023 and the start of 2024, there were many hours put into meeting all of the requirements needed to be competitive at the highest level, and this was the goal of all teams.

On Saturday, 9^th March, the students travelled to Adelaide in preparation for the competition. Sunday was spent checking all aspects of each team’s competition elements to ensure they had everything needed. On the Monday, we travelled to St Peters College to commence the week of competition. On Day One, teams submitted their portfolios and cars, and sat through the process of having their cars scrutinised to ensure they complied with all stated rules and hoping for minimal penalties. Tuesday involved the team’s setting up their trade displays where they had two hours to complete, from the unpacking of boxes through to having digital displays running. During Wednesday and Thursday students participated in four interviews and raced their cars. From the first day of racing, the biggest achievement for our school was Nandali’s car recording the fastest lap of all teams there, and this time remained the fastest for the whole competition and was one of the faster cars from the last ten years at a national final. Being the first year of competing with cars which have the halo as part of their design, Nandali currently has the fastest car with a halo, and hopefully this is a benchmark that lasts for many years.

Friday morning was our final day at St Peters College with the award ceremony beginning at 10:00am. The results below were extremely pleasing with three of our teams receiving category awards within a field of extremely talented, and experienced students, many of whom were several years older than ours and had more experience within the competition.

Over the week of competition, which in several 40+ degree days with no air-conditioning was hard work, all students were outstanding in the way they interacted with other teams and how they competed in the racing and performed in their interviews. For the students listed below, this was an amazing opportunity which they will never forget.

Our school would like to acknowledge the amazing support we have received from the following as this has been invaluable in our students’ ability to attend such an event, and to be competitive at a national competition.

Bell Bay Aluminium	AMC	ACL Bearings	Collective Consulting
Corvanta	Rare Innovations	Walker Designs	Tas City Building
Rotary Club of West Launceston	High Performance Coach	Strawberry Communication	Shaw Contracting
Modeltek	Newton & Henry	Rare Earth	West Tamar Council