Lincolnshire students race to victory at Greenpower International Finals at Goodwood
Lincolnshire school team takes overall top spot in international electric car race
Students from St George's Academy’s Ruskington campus took the honours at the Greenpower International Finals 2026, racing at the iconic Goodwood Motor Circuit.
More than 1,000 young engineers from 130 schools and teams across the UK and overseas took to the track on Sunday (October 18), racing electric cars they had designed and built themselves, with the Ruskington team taking top spot overall for their age category.
Teacher Tom Mitchell of St George's Academy said: “As a school we have been involved in Greenpower for 16 years. We started off as a small team with very little idea about the motorsport industry, and over the years we have spent hours developing, modifying and fine-tuning our engineering skills to be where we are now.
“The pupils have learnt a vast amount of skills that will take them into future engineering careers.”
He added: “This year’s final at Goodwood was a chance for us to take those skills, work as a team and do as well as we possibly can, while continuing to learn throughout the whole event. We are already planning ahead to next season. Greenpower is, and always will be, a fantastic way to get involved in engineering for the future.”
The finals brought together teams from as far as Canada and Australia, so the win came against some of the strongest young engineers in the world. From first practice to the chequered flag, the paddock was a hive of activity, with last-minute repairs, tyre pressure checks and strategy huddles, and non-stop racing throughout the day. St George's Academy carried the flag for Lincolnshire and came home with the top spot in Formula 24.
The finals are the culmination of Greenpower's annual programme, which guides young people through the full engineering process from idea to race-ready vehicle. Students compete in two age categories - Formula 24 (ages 11 to 16) and Formula 24+ (ages 16 to 25).
Dr Nash Vracas, Co-Chair of Greenpower, said: "I've always believed that the best way to inspire young individuals into STEM is to give them an opportunity for hands-on experiences. It's not just about what happens on race day, it's about the opportunities that come from being involved and where those experiences can take them in the future."
Nearly one million 16 to 24-year-olds in the UK are not in education, employment or training (ONS), while the Royal Academy of Engineering's Engineers 2030 report describes a growing shortfall in engineering skills. Greenpower uses motorsport to inspire young people into science, technology, engineering and maths careers.