Six Saudi Arabian high school students, Team Lynx Racing, won the 2026 STEM Racing World Finals in Singapore, receiving the trophy on the F1 podium. The competition, running since 2000, tasks students with designing and manufacturing CO2-powered miniature F1 cars to race 20-metre tracks. The 2026 edition was the largest yet, with 91 teams from 36 countries.
Teams are judged on car speed, marketing portfolios, sponsorship plans, branding, presentations, and pit booth displays. Despite miniature scales, the event mirrors professional F1 scrutineering standards. Top performer Noah of German team Spectrum secured third place, highlighting the pressure of teamwork.
Singapore's Aarav, leader of team Nebula, noted the high level of international competition. While a direct F1 path is limited for most participants, alumni have transitioned to university degrees and F1 roles. Greece's Kyriakos Theofanidis, a 2016 winner, now works at Red Bull Ford Powertrains.
James Mitchell from Australia, a 2023 competitor, joined Aston Martin. The initiative is supported by F1 and its teams, aiming to spark engineering curiosity in talented children.
Source: Autosport F1 News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing