Helicopter Tour Dubai is sponsoring the Lightspeed Tornadoes team from the JESS Jumeirah for the international F1 in Schools programme.

F1 in Schools is an international competition that challenges teams of school students to set up their own Formula 1 team and run it as a mini-enterprise project. They are responsible for managing budgets, marketing and branding, sourcing sponsorship and designing, manufacturing and racing a miniature gas-powered balsa-wood Formula 1 car. The UAE programme is based at Yas Marina Circuits F1 in Schools Centre of Excellence, which can be used as a learning resource by participating teams and also hired as a competition venue for internal school competitions.

The internal school competition for JESS has been helded at JESS Arabian Ranches on 20th March.

The F1 in Schools panel will judge the Lightspeed Tornadoes team, who are entered in the F1 Intermediate Class, on presentation and organisation as well as the results of the races.

This class is based around a rocket car and designed for pupils aged from 8 to 14, working as teams or individuals. Pupils design their cars using Computer Aided Design software. These designs are then sent by email to the F1 in Schools Centre of Excellence where a computer-controlled machine tool manufactures the car from a block of balsa wood. Cars are returned to teams or individuals for sanding and painting. School winners compete against others in the same age category in the National Bloodhound Championships held annually at Yas Marina Circuit. This year’s finals are on 6 and 7th May. Pupils can progress to the older Bloodhound category or the Senior F1 Class.

The Lightspeed Tornadoes team comprises:

Thomas Plumtree, Manager

George Gunn, Resource Manager

Russell Cross, Graphics Engineer

Robert Anderson, Design Engineer

James Emerson, Manufacturing Engineer

Harry Hill, Manufacturing Engineer