The go-Kart campaign designed to spread STEM skills through motorsport

RS Components, the trading arm of British industrial components distributor Electrocomponents, has today announced its PDC go-kart design competition, providing the chance for students to design the bodywork of PDC Racing's new kart in time for the 2021/22 racing season.

Designers are in for the chance to win a "STEM day" for their school, to increase awareness and encourage more youngsters to chose the field as a potential career path.

The competition is open for children in the UK and Ireland aged 7-16 years and challenges them to create an eye-catching design for the kart. Once the design has been drawn up, it will be developed and tested by the PDC Junior's team, consisting of children aged 9-14, who will compete in various championships throughout the 2021/22 season.

The PDC racing team was formed in 2016 and is sponsored by RS and they compete in various competitions across the UK and Europe. They currently have seven cars in multiple clubs and national championships and have laid claim to four national championship titles in the last four years, after having won over 40 races.

The British traders consider motorsports to be an ideal place to learn about STEM skills and knowledge, from the science behind the vehicle design and performance to the mathematical prowess required to devise the perfect racing line around the circuit.

Laura Giddings, STEM Education Manager, Northern Europe at RS: "We are committed to inspiring the next generation of engineers in addressing the global skills shortage.

“Karting is the first step on the motorsport ladder for young people and is a fantastic way to acquire and use STEM skills. The chance to learn more about motorsport will be the impetus for some very creative kart design entries."

Gavin Johnson, a racing driver and STEM ambassador for the PDC racing team said: “STEM education is one of the team’s main areas of focus, so we’re delighted to be partnering with RS on this design competition for schools.

“Our ongoing commitment is to provide an inclusive and welcoming environment, focused around STEM, where young people can learn, develop skills, and build confidence. Today, young people can design a go-kart, tomorrow that could be a Formula 1 car. Anything is possible.”

The first-place prize is a school visit from RS's mobile innovation centre Titan II and the PDC race team, during which the winning design will be unveiled. The winners are also given a mini-merchandise kit and tickets for a race day or test day for their design.

The four runner-ups will have their designs displayed on the RS website alongside the winning design, and also receive a mini-merchandise kit, a race or test day ticket, and a Future Motorsports engineering kit.

The closing dated for applicants is 7 November.

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