TAVISTOCK College's technology faculty has launched an exciting new engineering project that will see students build an electric race car and compete against other schools across the country.

The project — IET Formula 24 — aims to inspire students into exciting careers in engineering and other STEM subjects.

Students will design and build an electric, single-seater race car, which they will eventually race against other schools regionally and nationally at Goodwood circuit, Chichester.

The project started in November, when head of technology Pete Keegan launched the project to all Year 8 and Year 9 students in assemblies.

To be selected for the team, students had to apply for a range of specific roles within the team. They had to prove their passion and demonstrate any relevant experience that would make them a suitable candidate.

Mr Keegan said: 'We are really trying to give the project a "real world" context and give students a taste of what applying for a job is actually like.

'We hope to maintain this as a strong theme throughout the project, giving it a career context.'

After scrutinising many applications the team was selected as Jack Kelly of Year 10, taking the role of captain, Jack Kerswill, Year 9, Erin Bolding, Year 8, Tom Harrison, Year 9, Bryce Lovell, Year 9, Ben Anning, Year 9 and Sebastian Hennessay-Dobbs, Year 9.

To start the project, the team needed to get fundraising as the initial start-up cost to build a Formula 24 kit car chassis was just over £2,000.

The team sourced more than half of this amount through generous sponsorship from the college's trustees, Tavistock Rotary Club and Tavistock Lions Club and the team spent every spare minute before Christmas manufacturing laser-cut reindeers, which were sold for Christmas gifts through Southwest Crafts and Brigid Foley in Tavistock, as well as through various local craft events.

Mr Keegan said: 'We have managed to raise over £2,000 so far.

'Now the students are being given some additional lessons in race physics, computing applications in racing, maths in racing and computer aided design to enhance their skills ready for the big project ahead.'

The students would be delighted to receive any further sponsorship and would welcome any assistance from the community or local industry experts.

l The members of the IET?Formula 24 team are pictured above.