By Jeremy Sollars
Students from Warwick State High School’s successful ‘Formula Student’ program are taking to the racetrack at Lakeside Park Raceway north of Brisbane today in the production car which is the result of the 2020 project.
Now in its fourth year, the program sees Year 12 students manufacture and assemble components for the vehicle from the ground up – but the most important skill-set they acquire is working as a team.
The outer body of the car is the same as that used in previous years but the students complete production of the chassis and engine at Warwick State High School’s Trade Training Centre at the corner of Victoria and Guy Streets.
As well as giving the student team practical hands-on trade experience a number of past students have entered apprenticeships locally – the project assists in completion of a Certificate II in Engineering Pathways.
Today – Friday 16 October – the group will take to the circuit at Lakeside Park Raceway at Kurwongbah to put the vehicle through its paces, with each student experiencing track time in an ‘endurance’ racing event with other schools from across South-East Queensland which also participate in the program.
The ‘Formula Student’ concept was the brainchild of Brisbane businessman and motorsport enthusiast Greig Frankham.
Local businesses involved in the ‘Formula Student’ program include Warwick Automotive, Mirror Finish Smash Repairs, We R Signs, Warwick Screenprinting and Embroidery and ArcPoint Industries at Allora. Along with teacher and course supervisor Michael Plant students in the 2020 Formula Student program include Kevin Ryan, John Spies, Patrick Dromgold, Dawson Wright, Ryan Demamiel, Lachlan Harris, Alex Ristuccia, Ben Lyons and Matthew Butcher.
