ES
The F1 in Schools Xispa team, composed of students from the 1st year of the SEK International School Catalunya Diploma Program, has won the F1 in Schools Spain national competition in the Professional Class category. This triumph represents the fruit of a year of hard work, dedication and effort, culminating with the victory in the national category and securing, in turn, their participation in the world finals to be held in the last week of November 2024.
On the weekend of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix, the finals of the F1 in Schools STEM Challenge took place in Spain, next to Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. This annual competition challenges students from around the world to work in teams to develop the branding, identity and unique design of a racing car. The teams present their projects in regional and national competitions, facing tough competition.
SEK-Catalunya students participated in three of the four categories: Entry Class, Development Class and Professional Class. In the Entry Class and Development Class categories, they obtained first and second positions, represented by the Lion and Celis teams. The Professional category, in which the Xispa team competed, is intended for experienced teams and requires the development of detailed business and engineering portfolios, defending their designs and logistics management.
The hard work, effort and perseverance of the Xispa team were rewarded when they managed to win this national competition. This achievement is the result of talent, dedication, the ability to overcome challenges and working together as a team. Now, the students will prepare to represent Spain in the F1 in Schools STEM Challenge world final, where they will compete against the best teams in the world in search of the title of world champions.
In addition, from June 17 to 23, the team experienced unforgettable moments, such as the invitation to a special event at the Fernando Alonso Circuit Museum in Oviedo. This event was part of the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education days organized by Aramco, one of F1’s main sponsors. This conference, held on the eve of the Spanish Grand Prix at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, aimed to provide the next generation of STEM and motorsports talent with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in their careers.
During this event, students participated in a series of workshops focused on various areas such as design, engineering, mechanics and media, led by experts, including Xavi Maroñas, professor at SEK-Catalunya. In addition to the technical training, attendees had the opportunity to meet motorsport references such as Fernando Alonso, Pedro Martínez de la Rosa, Jessica Hawkins and Melissa Jiménez. The day culminated with a karting master class given by these drivers, where the students were able to practice everything they learned on the Fernando Alonso circuit.
