STEM Racing at BGS ‘In racing there are always things you can learn, every single day.’
Lewis Hamilton
What is STEM Racing (F1 in Schools)?
STEM Racing – supported by F1, was known as F1 in Schools prior to 2025. It is an international STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) competition designed for students.
The competition involves teams who are challenged to use CAD/CAM software to collaborate, design, analyse, manufacture, test, and then race miniature compressed air powered balsa wood F1 cars.
The competition is not only about speed. It’s a multi-disciplinary challenge that encompasses design, engineering, manufacture, branding, graphics, sponsorship, marketing, leadership/teamwork, media skills and financial strategy, and promotes careers and opportunities in these fields.
In Australia, STEM Racing is run by Re-Engineering Australia.
Team Lunar Crowned World Champions
From BGS to the world stage.
Congratulations to the Year 11s of Team Lunar, Leo, Oli, Liam, Max and Max, who are newly crowned 2025 STEM Racing World Champions, taking out 1st place in the 2025 Aramco STEM Racing World Finals in Singapore. Read the official report, as well as the offthetrack.net report of this amazing accomplishment from a field of 1.8 million global participants.
[Photo: Stem Racing HQ]
A Swag of Awards
On the way they also scooped up the following awards: Winner of the Autodesk Ansys Integrated Digital Engineering Award, Winner of the AMG Petronas Fastest Car Award, Winner of the Atlassian Williams Racing Best Engineered Car. 2nd Place in the DHL Fastest Lap Award, Top 3 in the Autodesk Design & Best Make Award, Top 4 in the Mitutoyo FIA Scrutineering Award, Top 4 in the McLaren Research & Development Award, and were the Number 1 Seed & Quarter Finalists in the Knockout Round.
[Photo: Stem Racing HQ]
Max and Liam join the Academy
Additionally Max and Liam were among only 10 students globally selected to join the prestigious Komatsu Williams Academy.
[Photo: Stem Racing HQ]
Designed by teachers, informed by engineers, and endorsed by F1, setting students on the track to STEM success.
STEM Racing at BGS
STEM Racing (F1 in Schools) has been running at BGS for several years, with many teams and numerous students competing at State and National competitions. It is offered as part of the Secondary School co-curriculum program.
Starting in Year 7 students, interested students form teams with the goal of eventually competing. Beginning with weekly lunch time meetings in the BHIVE, teams with the most developed and best concepts will progress to a level where they can start to compete.
The process is intensive but rewarding, and many important life skills are learnt along the way, beyond the actual competition.
In 2024 we are looking to offer the F1 in Schools primary class program in the Junior School. Stay tuned for more info.
It's more than just racing
Students use milling machines, smoke and wind tunnels, and electronic race tracks while they learn essential collaboration skills to exchange ideas.
The program ultimately provides students with insights into potential career pathways with various industries playing a significant role in the competition. Students must engage with local businesses to enhance their understanding of engineering, manufacturing, product development and marketing often working with potential employers and colleagues.
BGS at the World Finals
In 2023 we competed at the World Finals for the first time with Team Constellation representing Australia and BGS in Singapore.
For the team the competition represented the culmination of years of competition and hard work, as well as a last hurrah for a team of students made up of completing or completed students.
Constellation finished 17th overall, achieving the fastest track time of any Australian team at 1.123sec, going even faster in the knockout stage with 1.120sec.
To Team Constellation: James Mitchell (OB 2022), James Tan (OB 2024), Jenson Galvin (OB 2023) and Matthew Westerman (OB 2022), well done! We hope you’ve enjoyed the ride.
Want to learn more?
Read articles from our archives:
2025 State Finals report (Oct 2025)
2025 World Finals report (Oct 2025)
2024 World Finals report (Nov 2024)
2024 National finals report (Mar 2024)
2023 World Finals report (Sept 2023)
2023 National Finals report (Apr 2023)
2022 State Finals report (Nov 2022)
2022 National Finals report (May 2022)
2021 F1 in Schools post (Dec 2021)
2021 F1 in Schools post (Nov 2021) – Constellation meet Red Bull
2021 F1 in Schools post (Nov 2021) – Constellation x Red Bull
2021 National Finals report 2 (May 2021)
2021 National Finals report 1 (May 2021)
2019 F1 in Schools post (Nov 2019)
2019 State Finals report (Oct 2019)
2019 F1 in Schools post (Mar 2019)
2018 F1 in Schools post (Nov 2018)
2017 F1 in Schools post (Nov 2017)
2016 F1 in Schools post (Nov 2016)