At Ecotecture, we’re passionate about encouraging young people to explore design, engineering and problem-solving. That’s why we were delighted to sponsor this year’s Race to the Line challenge at Oathall Community College, giving Year 7 students the opportunity to put their creativity and technical skills into practice.
Race to the Line is a national STEM initiative that challenges students to design, build and race miniature carbon dioxide-powered cars. Working in small teams, each group was provided with the same set of materials – a polystyrene block, four wheels, cardboard and a carbon dioxide canister to power their vehicle – before transforming them into unique race car designs.
At Oathall, the challenge built upon the forces topic that students had recently studied in their science lessons, allowing them to apply their classroom learning to a hands-on design project. Alongside building their cars, each team also created a presentation poster explaining their design decisions and came up with a team name.
Design Session
We visited the school during the design phase, where students were enthusiastically developing and refining their ideas. By this stage, the Design & Technology department had already helped students cut their chosen shapes from the polystyrene blocks, with teams focusing on adding features and details using cardboard.
The creativity on display was impressive. Designs ranged from Formula One-inspired race cars to sharks, bees and even a bedazzled creation, each reflecting the students’ individual ideas and personalities.
During the session, we spoke with two Year 7 classes about their concepts, discussing the thinking behind their designs, the challenges they had encountered and how they were overcoming them. It was fantastic to see the students so engaged, confidently explaining their ideas and eagerly sharing their progress.
Race Day
A week later, excitement filled the playground as every Year 7 class gathered for Race Day. The completed cars were launched along a guided string track spanning approximately 10–15 metres, powered by carbon dioxide canisters inserted by the teachers.
Many of the cars successfully reached the finish line, with some demonstrating impressive speed while others stood out for their consistency and thoughtful design. Although technical difficulties meant the school was unable to record race times this year, class teachers selected winning teams based on the overall performance, creativity and quality of each entry.
One of the highlights of the day was the atmosphere. Students enthusiastically supported one another throughout the event, cheering on classmates and friends as each car raced down the track. The teamwork, encouragement and excitement created a fantastic environment that celebrated both creativity and collaboration.
Supporting Future Designers
As our first year sponsoring Oathall’s Race to the Line challenge, it was incredibly rewarding to see students embracing the design process, applying scientific principles and working together to solve problems creatively.
At Ecotecture, we believe inspiring the next generation is an important part of creating a more sustainable future. Activities like Race to the Line encourage curiosity, innovation and confidence—skills that are invaluable for future architects, engineers and designers.
A huge congratulations to all of the Year 7 students who took part, and thank you to Oathall Community College for inviting us to be involved. We look forward to supporting future events and seeing what the next generation creates.
