Electric vehicle builders are set new targets

Greenpower Formula 24 starts on 29th April 2007 at Goodwood motor racing circuit with new shorter races.

Now in its ninth year, Greenpower Formula 24 starts on 29th April 2007 at Goodwood motor racing circuit.

After eight years of six-hour races which allowed two of the four batteries allowed to power the 24V school built electric cars to be charged, this years sees chargers removed and the duration of the race reduced to four hours.

With 320km having been exceeded a number of times in the six-hour events, Barry Shears, the founder of the company, reckoned that it was time to change the goalposts and set new targets.

"Complacency was setting in", he quipped.

"After eight years too many of the teams knew what to do so we thought we would give the newcomers more of a chance by laying down a new challenge".

"Judging by the moaning from the veterans it has worked".

Greenpower organises these electric car events at all levels of education to stimulate an interest in technology and science through designing, building and then racing 24V wheelchair motor powered cars that are driven on a number of the major motorsport venues in the UK.

With 14 regional heats to follow over the summer months and the final which features the top 75 cars in October at Goodwood it is a busy season for the schools and their teams.

Interestingly, last year 29% of the competitors registered at the final in October were girls.

And incidences of truancy have dropped in primary school building the Greenpower Goblin kit cars.

Pupils from 10 to 18 can participate in one of the four current formulas.

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