A group of pupils recently represented CLS in the North London regional finals of STEM Racing, an international competition that challenges pupils to design, build and race miniature cars.
STEM Racing takes place in more than 40 countries and is open to those aged 9–19. Teams use professional CAD/CAM software to design high-performance miniature race cars, which are manufactured from foam blocks and raced along a specially designed track powered by CO₂ canisters. Alongside the engineering challenge, teams must also secure sponsorship, develop a brand identity and present their work to judges.
The CLS team CLS:01, marked the school’s first entry into the competition. The group of five pupils divided responsibilities between two key areas: Engineering and Design, and Marketing and Branding, allowing them to combine technical development with business and communication skills.
Using the Autodesk Fusion CAD platform, the engineering team designed a lightweight car body and rear wing that met the competition’s strict technical regulations. The body was machined from the official foam block using a CNC router, while the rear wing and wheels were 3D printed using lightweight filament. The design was then tested using virtual wind tunnels to refine aerodynamics before the final car was painted in the team’s red, white and silver branding.
Meanwhile, the marketing team developed the CLS:01 identity, creating a sleek team logo incorporating the letters “CLS” within the outline of a car, designed a pit display with A1 posters, and secured sponsorship from three local businesses to support the project.
On competition day, teams first underwent technical scrutineering to ensure their cars met strict weight and dimension rules. Cars were then held in a secure area before racing on a 20-metre straight track. Powered by a pressurised CO₂ cartridge, the cars accelerate to remarkable speeds, completing the course in around 1.2 seconds.
As well as the races themselves, teams were judged on multiple aspects of their project, including engineering design, portfolios, branding, marketing and project management. The pupils also delivered a five-minute presentation explaining their approach and team ethos.
While the competition was extremely strong and CLS:01 did not place in the top three to progress to the national finals, the team gained valuable experience in engineering, teamwork and presentation.
For CLS’s first venture into STEM Racing, the pupils said they were proud of what they achieved, with one pupil commenting:
The knowledge and experience we gained not just that day but throughout the year was very fulfilling. The whole journey of our project was very fun, and we cannot wait to have another go at the title next year.
find out more about stem racing here
