A team of school students were pipped to the top step of the podium after zooming to the national final of a major motorsport design competition.

A group of five year 10 pupils from The King’s School in Worcester entered the F1 in Schools Professional Class competition as Prism Racing.

Sponsored by Worcester-based The Key Safe Company, the team's F1 scale car overtook competitors at the regional heat to race to the national final in pole at Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham.

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Though they did not take home the overall victory, the team, nonetheless, acquired valuable experience.

Aron Gijsel, 14, a member of Prism Racing, said: "The competition provided a fantastic learning opportunity, and we gained a wealth of knowledge that will undoubtedly help us in the near future.

"The entire journey from the regional champions to the national stage was an unforgettable experience for our team."

Worcester News: The team, competing under the 'Prism Racing' banner, plan on returning to compete at next year's

He added: "As we reflect on our time at the nationals, we are filled with motivation and determination to come back stronger next year.

"We are committed to applying the lessons learned and honing our skills to hopefully make it to the podium in next season's competition."

The victors of the contest, Leaf1, from The Langton Grammar School for Boys in Canterbury, will receive a full scholarship to study Mechanical Engineering at Aston University, and will compete at the Aramco F1 in Schools World Finals.

A few other teams from the competition will also advance to the world finals, typically held alongside an international F1 Grand Prix.

The competition evaluates not only the speed of the cars in drag races but also the teams' ability to manage projects, run branding and marketing campaigns, and present to industry professionals.

Kelly Woodhouse, customer service manager at The Key Safe Company, said: "As a UK-based enterprise that designs and engineers market-leading products, we’re incredibly proud to have supported this STEM initiative, which is all geared towards inspiring the future generation of British engineers."

For more information on the team's journey, visit Prism Racing’s website at https://prismracing.uk/.