Ford Essex Regional Heat
Sat 04 July 2009
The Essex Regional Heat, once again hosted by Ford Dunton, saw 17 cars lined up on the starting grid on Saturday 4th July. All of them were prepared for a challenging four hour race on the demanding circuit laid out on the test track.
The Business Academy Bexley’s new car was quick to take the lead, aiming to defend the schools standing as champions for the previous two years, but the early signs indicated they had a tough job ahead of them with several schools chasing them.
Both the new cars from Colchester County High School for Girls were looking very impressive and by the half way mark in the race all the hard work was paying off with Mirage in third place and Little Scarlet in fourth.
Back in the paddocks the Ford volunteers were working hard with Little Ilford School to get their cars out on the track. Having experienced some technical difficulties early on the team were all determined to join the race. Help from the Plume School also went a long way in assisting the Little Ilford team, and by the second half of the event both cars were out on the circuit and running.
As the race moved into the final hour the Business Academy Bexley’s other new car, Build Base Arrow, was still holding on to the lead they had gained an hour earlier. However, Aluuuuuminium from Chatham House Grammar School was not letting the leader out of sight.
Fast and furious pit stops really made a difference at this circuit with positions constantly changing. All the cars and teams were struggling with the intense heat as well. During the battery and driver changes the pit crews were keeping a close eye on the motor temperatures and ensuring they were kept cool.
As the chequered flag finally fell after four gruelling hours it was Chatham House Grammar School’s Aluuuuuminium leading the field having completed 70 laps of the 1.1mile circuit. Colchester County High School’s Little Scarlet took second place ahead of newcomers Simon Balle School in Mothballe.
Chris Taylor, Head of Testing at Ford Dunton handed out the awards to the winning schools, and all the teams are looking forward to returning to the track again next year.
Supplementary Awards:
Bloodhound SSC Fastest Lap - 2mins 29.202secs, Chatham House Grammar School, Aluuuuuminium
Best Newcomer - Simon Balle School
IMechE Best Engineered Car - The Leigh Technology Academy, Bluewater
Best Presented Team - Colchester County High School for Girls, Mirage
IoM3 Innovative Use of Recycled Materials - Business Academy Bexley