A team of Faversham pupils have accelerated beyond rivals from across the globe to lift the world champions trophy at the F1 in Schools contest.

Evolve, a group of three boys from Queen Elizabeth’s grammar school, have seen off international competition and raced their way to victory at the three-day finals in Abu Dhabi, also picking up three additional trophies.

The team is made up of 18-year-old George Stonor, who completed his A-level studies at the school this summer but is on a gap year, and Year 13 pupils Freddie Bull, aged 18, and 17-year-old Lewis Fowler.

They have worked together for a number of years and achieved their goal of making the final.

But they went above their expectations by claiming the champion title, beating 54 other teams from 24 countries.

The trio celebrated their success at a ceremony last Wednesday under the Shams Tower at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi as fireworks lit up the sky.

They collected awards for winning the knock-out racing competition, pit display award and enterprise portfolio prize, seeing off teams from Germany, Australia, America and more.

George and Lewis applied for and won places in the Unilever Williams Engineering Academy (UWEA).

Along with the world champions title, the boys have won scholarships to City University of London, UCL Mechanical Engineering and the University of Huddersfield.

Last weekend, they were treated to an F1 Experience track tour, paddock access for each day of the Grand Prix and a trophy presentation on the Formula 1 podium.

Evolve member George said: “We came here hoping for a top-10 finish and possibly an award, so to have won three awards is amazing, but to be world champions is just so much more than we could ever have imagined.

“We really didn’t think we could do it, especially with so many good teams, it’s just incredible. We’ve been devoted to this competition for so many years, it’s taken over our lives, but it’s been so worth it.”

The competition, F1 in Schools, is a design and engineering challenge which sees teams manufacture and race a miniature model of a Formula 1 racing car.

The team have worked hard on designing the car, raising sponsorship, redesigning, testing and racing - all on top of the normal demands of A level studies.

QE’s head teacher, David Anderson, has hailed the team for the “phenomenal result”.

“As a school, we are thrilled by this fabulous achievement,” he said. “We have been on the edge of our seats and even delayed the start of one or two of our lessons as the live feed from Abu Dhabi was displayed across the school.

“My thanks and congratulations to the outstanding team of George, Lewis and Freddie, we are immensely proud of them, they deserved this achievement as they have worked so hard.

"They have been incredibly driven and dedicated and the standard of their work is exceptional.

“A special thank you must to go Phil Harvey, their extremely committed teacher.

"We are very grateful to him for all of his hard work supporting this excellent team.”

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