Double success for Weald School at Goodwood

The Green Power car organisation allows young people in schools to build battery-powered electric cars and race them at circuits around the country.

With over 40 cars racing, The Weald lined up two cars on the grid for the first time.

Headteacher Peter Woodman explained: “Our original car, The ‘Black Bullet’, which came second in the national final two years ago, has recently had an overhaul and is faster than ever.

“The ‘Purple Predator’ is our new car and this was its first outing”.

The day was full of drama and excitement. The Black Bullet was left on the grid after an electrical problem and it had to be wheeled off and repaired and re-started in the pit lane.

This meant giving the whole field a 7 minute head start in the four hour endurance race.

The team also suffered setbacks as the new specification batteries did not last as long as previous versions and both cars had battery problems which meant they had to be trailered back from breakdowns halfway round the circuit.

Despite this, The Weald School team of some 20 students did not give up.

Impeccable battery and driver changes, coupled with superb driving meant that both cars fought their way back up the field. The Black Bullet finished in second place whilst the Purple Predator finished third.

The school added: “We think this is a first time in any regional qualifier to have a school finish with two cars on the podium.

“This means that both cars have qualified for the national finals in October”.

The Weald School will go to Dunsfold race track in September, home of BBC’s Top Gear, to give some of the younger drivers more practice on a circuit and in a race situation.