Aerospace giant Airbus has partnered with the leading global education STEM challenge, F1 in Schools, for its UK National Finals 2019.

The two-day event will be held at Airbus’ West Factory in Broughton, Flintshire, where wings for the company’s entire family of commercial aircraft are manufactured.

The F1 in Schools UK National Finals 2019, from 11th– 12th March, brings together the top 40 teams from around the country competing for the National Champions title. Over the two days the teams will undertake a busy timetable of judging elements, with an expert panel of professionals from Formula 1 teams and industry, including Airbus personnel, appraising the students’ work.

Andrew Denford, Founder and Chairman, F1 in Schools, said: “We are very privileged to be partnering with such a prestigious organisation and are delighted to take our UK National Final to Airbus and house it in one of the biggest factories in Europe. The Airbus factory will provide our students and teachers with an exclusive experience that adds a new dimension to the event and will undoubtedly be a highlight of the competition.”

He added: “F1 in Schools inspires a passion for engineering, with many of our ‘alumni’ choosing this as a career path. I’m sure that Airbus will be able to benefit from our partnership with access to some of the brightest young engineers and I’m sure we’ll see former F1 in Schools students joining Airbus in the future.”

Emily Merrison, Head of Education Liaison for Airbus in the UK, said: “Airbus was a key sponsor of the F1 in Schools competition last year, and we are very excited to take the partnership even further in 2019 by hosting the national finals at our A380 Wing factory here in North Wales. The students participating in this competition demonstrate the right behaviours and technical mindsets that the company looks for in its engineers of the future, which is why we’re proud to support and mentor them on their journey and we wish them the best of luck.”

Researching, designing, making and racing a miniature Formula 1 car is at the core of the F1 in Schools challenge, with the students producing a portfolio and pit display as well giving a business presentation and showcasing their engineering design, research and development work for the judges. Each team’s car is also put to the test, racing head-to-head on the F1 in Schools 20-metre track within the factory.

The UK Champions will win tickets to the FORMULA 1 BRITISH GRAND PRIX, including exclusive paddock access at the event from Formula 1, a Formula 1 team factory tour, two £5,000 scholarships for UCL Mechanical Engineering and Denford equipment worth £10,000 for their school.

The elite of the UK National Finals teams will be rewarded with a place at the F1 in Schools World Finals 2019. These students compete for the coveted F1 in Schools World Champions trophy, and highly valued City, University of London and University College London Engineering scholarships.

The F1 in Schools National Finals 2019 takes place with the assistance of a host of sponsors and supporters. In addition to Airbus, these are the IET, Autodesk, Denford Ltd, City, University of London and UCL Engineering.