Record-breaking Participation in “F1 in Schools Hong Kong Professional Class Competition 2024” Kicking off an Innovative Parth for Future Engineers The Grand Opening of “F1 in Schools Engineering Lab” Marks a New Chapter in Hong Kong's STEAM Education

(Hong Kong, 16 December 2024) Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), in collaboration with the F1 in Schools Hong Kong In-Country Coordinator, successfully hosted the “F1 in Schools Hong Kong Professional Class Competition 2024” from 14 to 15 December. This year’s competition saw record-breaking participation with 93 secondary school students, reflecting the growing enthusiasm among the younger generation for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education. The event not only highlighted their engineering expertise and innovative thinking but also fostered their collaboration skills. The top three teams from the competition will now vie for the opportunity to represent Hong Kong, China at the “F1 in Schools World Finals 2025.”

Prof Hon William Kam-fai WONG, Legislative Council Member delivered a speech, said, “Remember the valuable experiences you have gained in this F1 in Schools competition. I noticed that some of you immediately dived into the mechanics of the race car. You need to take a step back and think about what is truly needed. For example, consider the factors that affect the speed of the race car, and then find solutions to make the car go faster." He continued to explain that STEM can be divided into two core components: Technology and Engineering (T&E) as the internal core, and Science and Mathematics (S&M) as the external core. When we encounter problems, we return to the internal core: as Technology determines what solutions we can use, and Engineering is responsible for implementing those solutions. “I hope you all continue to explore, just like you did in the competition by constantly analysing and trying different solutions. In recent years, STEM has evolved into STEAM, where 'A' could represent Affection. I hope you can all engage in the fields you are passionate about and create endless possibilities.”

Ms Karen FUNG, Chief Marketing Officer of HKPC, said: “HKPC is honoured to once again host the F1 in Schools programme and competition. This year’s F1 in Schools Hong Kong Professional Class Competition saw a record high participation of nearly one hundred students, which is incredibly encouraging. This year, HKPC also inaugurates the ‘F1 in Schools Engineering Lab’, which will serve as a pivotal platform for students to learn and apply engineering skills and encourage them to explore and implement scientific knowledge through hands-on practice. It is set to further promote the development of STEAM education, helping students enhance their innovation capacity and practical skills. Over the past three years, more than 600 students have participated in F1 in Schools-related workshops, training sessions, and regional competitions organised by HKPC. Moving forward, HKPC will continue to promote and host F1 in Schools activities in Hong Kong, encouraging more local students to engage in this world-class STEAM education programme, nurture a new generation of innovation and technology (I&T) talent and contribute to positioning Hong Kong as a leading international I&T hub.”

Results of the “F1 in Schools Hong Kong Professional Class Competition 2024”

This year’s F1 in Schools Hong Kong competition featured two categories: the Development Class (preliminary rounds) and the Professional Class.. Participants competed in teams, representing their respective schools. The preliminary rounds, which began in August this year, involved multiple stages of intense competition. Ultimately, 16 teams from various secondary schools advanced to the Hong Kong Professional Class Competition, competing for the coveted qualification spots to join the World Finals. After a rigorous competition and careful evaluation by a panel of expert judges, three winning teams emerged victorious and will move on to further contend for the opportunity to represent Hong Kong, China, at the “F1 in Schools World Finals 2025”. The top three teams are:

Champion team: Zealim Racing (HKFYG Lee Shau Kee College)
1st Runner-Up: Pegasus (United Christian College (Kowloon East))
2nd Runner-Up: Starlights Racing (Lingnan Dr. Chung Wing Kwong Memorial Secondary School)
 

The champion team Zealim Racing stated, "The teams participating in this competition are all very strong, and the competition is fierce. We are honoured to take part in this competition and win the championship. We are very grateful for the strong support from our school and HKPC. HKPC has provided a total of 60 hours of a series of hardware and software courses before the competition, including engineering knowledge, technical guidance, computer design, marketing, and brand management, continually equipping us with knowledge and skills. One course that left a particularly deep impression on us taught us how to gain sponsorship support."

Grand Opening of the “F1 in Schools Engineering Lab”

Following the conclusion of the Hong Kong Professional Class Competition, HKPC held the grand opening ceremony for the “F1 in Schools Engineering Lab”. This cutting-edge facility provides an optimal environment for students to engage in hands-on learning and exploration, encouraging them to apply scientific theories and transform their creative ideas into reality. Students can utilise tools such as computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software within the lab to design, build, and test race car models. The lab’s primary objective is to advance local STEAM education by fostering students’ creativity, developing their technical skills, and deepening their understanding of science and technology, laying a solid foundation for cultivating the next generation of talent in I&T.

Regarding the opening of the "F1 in Schools Engineering Lab", Zealim Racing expressed excitement, "The 'F1 in Schools Engineering Lab' showcases the tracks and the works of past winning teams, which we believe will serve as a reference and learning resource for future participating teams. This will help them enhance their race car models and further apply their skills in the competition."

Review of the “F1 in Schools World Finals 2024”

Last year’s “F1 in Schools Hong Kong Finals 2023” was highly competitive, with 60 students participating. After an intense battle, three teams qualified to participate in the “F1 in Schools World Finals 2024” (“World Finals 2024”) to be held in Saudi Arabia this November.

The “World Finals 2024” attracted 55 teams from different countries and regions, with Hong Kong also sending a representative. The Lingnan Nova team from Lingnan Dr. Chung Wing Kwong Memorial Secondary School won the championship at the “F1 in Schools Hong Kong Finals 2023” and represented Hong Kong, China at the “World Finals 2024”.

The students of the Hong Kong representative team, Lingnan Nova, stated that they have spent a whole year preparing for the World Finals 2024. This process included participating in training courses, building their brand, seeking sponsors, and continuously testing and refining their racing car models to achieve excellence. This not only increased their interest in STEAM and physics knowledge and boosted their confidence but also greatly assisted their academic advancement. The teachers of the representative team mentioned that F1 in Schools is a fantastic experience that broadens students' horizons, allowing them to recognise their strengths and shine in their areas of expertise. The school has expressed its intention to integrate more STEAM education into the curriculum in the future to enhance students' enthusiasm for new technologies, such as VR and drone courses.

F1 in Schools Competition: A World-Class STEAM Event

In 2022, supported by the General Support Programme of the Innovation and Technology Fund of the HKSAR Government, HKPC and the F1 in Schools Hong Kong In-Country Coordinator introduced the F1 in Schools STEAM programme to Hong Kong. This year marks the third time the HKPC has organised the F1 in Schools STEAM program. The annual F1 in Schools Hong Kong competitions provide students with an excellent platform to showcase their creativity and skills, enhancing their knowledge in the STEAM fields and preparing them for future careers. HKPC will continue to expand the F1 in Schools programme, reaching out to more schools and students, and collaborating with more industry experts, engineering firms, and technology companies to provide additional resources, training, and support.

F1 in Schools was established in the UK in 1999 and has reached over 26,000 schools in approximately 50 regions, aiming to promote Formula 1 and STEAM education to youth aged 9 to 19.

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Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), in collaboration with the F1 in Schools Hong Kong In-Country Coordinator, successfully hosted the “F1 in Schools Hong Kong Professional Class Competition 2024” from 14 to 15 December. After a rigorous competition and careful evaluation by a panel of expert judges, three winning teams emerged victorious and will move on to further contend for the opportunity to represent Hong Kong, China, at the “F1 in Schools World Finals 2025”: Zealim Racing (Champion), Pegasus (1st Runner-Up), Starlights Racing (2nd Runner-Up).

Following the conclusion of the F1 in Schools Hong Kong Professional Class Competition, HKPC held the grand opening ceremony for the F1 in Schools Engineering Lab.