Scarborough Teens Steal the Show at Aramco F1 in Schools 2024 World Finals

What do Formula 1, world class engineering and a group of Scarborough students have in common? Unity Racing—a team of 4 Scarborough UTC boys—just won not one but two awards at the Aramco F1 in Schools 2024 World Finals in Saudi Arabia. They were up against 55 teams from 25 countries and won the Pit Display Award and the Digital Media Award. Judges and spectators were impressed.

The team

• Matiss (16) - Team Manager
• Ryan (16) - Build and Test Engineer
• Jack (17) - Design Engineer
• Billy (16) - Technical Specialist

These 4 students weren’t just classmates—they were a well oiled machine. They shared a passion for engineering, creativity and problem solving which helped them to build a brand that was impossible to ignore.

What is the Pit Display Award?

A pit display is the team’s “shop window”. It’s the first impression they make, showcasing their journey, branding and identity in a visually stunning way. This isn’t just slapping a logo on a board—it’s storytelling with design.

Unity Racing’s stand was certainly noticeable. Professor Ian Green MBE, Chair of Judges, said:

“Unity Racing did well in this area, with their professional and smart design that communicated their brand and its messages to visitors.”

The trophy was presented by Abdullah Al Rashid, Director of Communication Strategy at Saudi Aramco, to the team.

A global stage for young innovators

The Aramco F1 in Schools World Finals is no small event. It’s the engineering equivalent of the Olympics. This year over 450 students and teachers from around the world came to Saudi Arabia to compete. Competitors were judged by a panel of 60 industry experts including representatives from Formula 1 teams. They were looking for excellence in areas such as:

• Engineering and design
• Innovation and creativity
• Project management
• Marketing and branding
• Presentation skills

Unity Racing ticked all these boxes and more.

And the winners?

While Unity Racing did well in their categories the overall World Champion title went to evolut1on from Germany’s Karl-Maybach-Gymnasium. Second and third were:

• Array from Gymnasium Grootmoor, Germany
• Lunar from Brighton Grammar School, Australia

These teams are the latest to join the long list of winners who have gone on to join real Formula 1 teams. 2015 winners Union Racing International produced George and Max Britton who are now working in F1.

A Saudi experience like no other

This was the first time the World Finals were held in Saudi Arabia and the organisers didn’t just stop at the competition. The teams were treated to a cultural experience at Ithra (the King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture) followed by a trip to Qatar. And the cherry on top? A pit lane walk at the Lusail International Circuit before the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix.

What’s F1 in Schools?

This isn’t just an after-school club. F1 in Schools is a launchpad for future engineers, designers and innovators. Past participants have gone on to join top motorsport teams and become the engineers who design winning Formula 1 cars. The competition gives students real-world skills and experience that are valuable in industries beyond motorsport.

What’s next for Unity Racing?

With two trophies under their belt they’re not done yet. Whether their next stop is more competitions, engineering degrees or even jobs in Formula 1, the team’s future is as bright as their booth at the World Finals.

For now, they’ve proven one thing: big dreams can start in Scarborough, and they can take you all the way to the world stage.