What's the race format?
Racing takes the form of a 45min endurance race, with each of your four drivers completing a pit stop during the race so that everyone gets a turn behind the wheel (around 10mins driving time each). All karts start from a Formula 1 style standing start, on the grid on circuit. Once the lights go out it’s go-go-go. Except there are no prizes here seeing the chequered flag first, this is all about the completely the most number of laps in within the allotted time. If the three mandatory pit-stops are not completed your team will be disqualified from the race. for Full detail on how pit stops work on the day is covered in [Race Procedures: Starts, Flags, Pit Stops and Race End].
If the race is stopped (for whatever reason), the time will also stop. If there is sufficient time remaining in the schedule the race will be restarted. If not, the race will be called at that point and a proportional scaling-up system applied to the number of laps completed so far to extrapolate and estimated total of how many would have been completed given the full time allocation.
How does points scoring work on race day?
Your Race-day points themselves follow a very simple linear sliding scale. After all of the races have been completed, the teams are all ranked based on number of laps completed (*with any equal score positions then determined by fastest lap). The winner, the team with the most number of laps, will get 100 points, 2nd place will get 99 points, 3rd 98 points, and so on.
Race-day results contribute to your team's overall score alongside your Build and Learn achievements from across the year; qualification and final placings are based on the combined picture, not race results alone. For how points build up on the platform itself, see [Points and Leaderboards].
What prizes are there?
Prizes are awarded across three categories: Build, Learn and Race… as well as the main prize for the cumulative total overall STEM On Track National Champions. Each one is backed by a sponsor or partner prize. So there's more than one way for your team to be recognised on the day, beyond just where you finish on track.
There will be trophies for 2nd and 3rd places in the Race category on the day. Plus some smaller acknowledgments trophies for the winners of each individual endurance race.
Previous sponsor prizes have included: a professional simulator system donated to your school, a tour of a world class army technology centre, a tour of a cutting-edge automotive testing centre… plus, of course, a Formula 1 factory tour! Our partners just keep donating bigger and better experience based prizes each year - it’s all to play for!
And not forgetting the prize for “best in show”... judged by a guest panel who are looking out for the most creative, innovative and exciting graphic design they can find.