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A cracked wing might seem like a quick fix for a mini racing car. But its creators knew the fissure could throw off the car’s aerodynamic balance and speed.
Ignition, an all-girls team of six Form Four students from St Paul’s Convent School, measured the damaged wing before carefully trimming its tip, making sure not to cut too much and risk a score deduction.
It was a test of precision under pressure and a reminder that in engineering, even the smallest details can make a difference.
Such challenges are part of STEM Racing, an international competition in which students design, manufacture and race miniature model cars. Taking on the business responsibilities of running a team, contestants must also develop their team’s branding, secure sponsorships and present their work.
As the only all-girls team in the Development Class – the category meant for new teams – Ignition won the award for best verbal presentation, and their car was the third fastest out of 17 in the Primary & Development Class Competition in September.
In December, they hope to continue challenging stereotypes in engineering and motorsport as they compete in the Professional Class of the Hong Kong Regional Finals, aiming for a shot at the World Finals.
Since the top levels of motorsport lack female representation, Ignition team member Tiana Leung Hoi-wan, 15, said the contest was a chance to show that girls belong in this sport.
“Our message to young women in Hong Kong is clear: if STEM interests you, take that first step,” she said. “You do not need to fit a stereotype to succeed. Your passion and ideas deserve a place on the track.”
Designing for speed
The team’s journey began when the pupils were in Form Two and visited the STEM Racing showroom and saw female student teams representing Hong Kong.
Sophia Lam, 14, said the experience inspired them to spend the next two years strengthening their technical foundations through various STEM challenges before applying for the competition in Form Four.
Now, as they move into the Professional Class, they have more design freedom – for example, being able to create their own wheels – but also face new challenges.
“We redesigned our own lightweight wheels to cut down inertia [and] smoothed out the chassis ... resembling more of a real-life Formula One car,” said team manager Shiloh Wong Tsz-ki, 15.
Computer modelling played a central role in the process. Using Fusion, a computer-aided design programme, the students turned their ideas into digital models. They then used Ansys software to simulate airflow around the car in a virtual wind tunnel.
The simulations helped them examine how drag would affect their vehicle at different velocities.
In an early design, they found a build-up of air at the front of the wing. The team returned to Fusion to adjust their plans, including reducing the wing’s angle, before testing it again in Ansys. Through repeated simulations, they refined the component, showing how engineering involves testing and adjusting according to evidence.
More than a fast car
Yet the team’s experience has taught them that a sophisticated design does not guarantee success.
Looking back on the competition in September, team member Jasmine Wong Man-ching said one of their biggest lessons was that theoretical design could take them only so far.
“We had many wild ideas in terms of aerodynamics and car design. Our problem was that we focused too much on the design part and we lacked attention on the manufacturing part,” the 15-year-old said.
“Sanding the car [and] putting stickers on ... is just as important as building our car in Ansys.”
The contest also tasks students with thinking like entrepreneurs, a skill that extends beyond engineering. Teams must seek support from sponsors, garnering experience in branding and building partnerships.
Jasmine noted: “A racing team should function like an ecosystem, where everyone understands how important their job is and shifts into ... collaboration.”
Cheryl Li Tsz-wai, who took charge of the team’s marketing, said they presented sponsorship as a collaboration rather than simply asking for funding.
“Our aim is to give each partner a meaningful role in our journey while creating opportunities to showcase their work,” the 15-year-old said.
The team said they secured a sponsorship from a clothing company to collaborate on team uniforms and were in talks with a printing company to help produce their pit display.
For students looking to step into competitive engineering, Sophia offered advice for stepping over what might seem like a steep barrier to entry.
“Taking that first step out of your comfort zone is often the hardest part,” she said. “STEM can certainly feel complex and intimidating, but once you get involved, you’ll discover a supportive community and develop skills that extend far beyond the classroom.”
