Greenpower and Green Port Hull, which is supported by the Regional Growth Fund, will host the UK’s first-ever electric race on closed public roads.
Held in the centre of UK City of Culture 2018, Hull, on Sunday 28 April, the event coincides with the 20th anniversary of Greenpower.
The unique triple-header event will feature three race categories: Formula Goblin (ages 9-11), F24 (ages 11-16) and F24+ (ages 16-25).
Greenpower Education Trust has hit the ground running in its 20th anniversary year as preparations for the UK’s first-ever electric closed road race continue.
Taking place in just under three months’ time on Sunday 28 April, the Hull Street Race will see talented students and drivers between the ages of 9 and 25 years old compete in electric single-seater cars which they have designed and built themselves.
Hosted by Greenpower and Green Port Hull, which is supported by the Regional Growth Fund, the city centre event will feature three race categories contested on a bespoke 800m track: IET Formula Goblin will see 9- to 11-year-olds tackle drag and slalom challenges; IET Formula 24 tasks 11- to 16-year-olds with two 90-minute endurance races; IET Formula 24+ is a one hour race for 16- to 25-year-olds.
Green Port Hull, which is supported by the Regional Growth Fund, is the lead sponsor of the event. Its vision is to establish Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire as a world class centre for renewable energy.
Councillor Stephen Brady, Leader of Hull City Council, said: “We support the efforts made by Greenpower in Hull to engage students in careers in the STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering and maths. This unique event offers pupils a creative way to learn about these key subjects and we hope it will help to inspire the young people of Hull to begin rewarding careers.”
Participating teams, who range from primary school pupils to youth groups, students and apprentices, have been hard at work in recent weeks to prepare their challengers for this ground-breaking event. Two confirmed teams for the Hull Street Race – the Healing Racers and Morpheus – previously competed in Project Blyth in 2017, which saw 47 teams race around Hull’s KCOM Stadium.
Each entry is supplied with its own age-appropriate kit car; F24 and F24+ teams also have the option of building their own car from scratch. The Greenpower challenge also introduces participants to wide range of STEM careers as they take charge of the media, business, sponsorship and finance aspects of their teams.
The Greenpower Education Trust was founded in 1999 to inspire young people into STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) through the unique challenge of designing, building and racing an electric street car. Greenpower has worked with more than 10,000 young people since its first race at Goodwood in 1999, offering them an experience like no other.
As the trust celebrates its 20th anniversary, it is hoping to build upon its year of growth in 2018 which saw over 1000 entries from 600 teams in 38 events. 2019 will feature a record calendar of events and a brand-new location for the International Finals. Silverstone Circuit will play host exactly 20 years to the day of the first-ever Greenpower event on Thursday 17th October.
Paul van Veggel, CEO of Greenpower Education Trust, said: “It’s been a busy and exciting start to 2019 for Greenpower as we prepare for our biggest year yet – as well as our 20th anniversary. It’s now only three months until the Hull Street Race, which promises to be a spectacular event in the centre of the UK City of Culture. We’re thankful to our partners and to the city of Hull for their support in our mission to inspire young people to follow technical subjects in their further education. Not only that, they also develop important interpersonal skills to work together to overcome adversity, play fair and by the sporting rules.”
Grants are available to help fund teams to get involved in Greenpower. Funding is available for organisations in the Hull and East Riding Council Areas for Formula 24+ teams, and in East Yorkshire & Hull for Formula Goblin teams. Funding for Formula 24 teams is available nationally. To find out more visit www.greenpower.co.uk/project-areas
