Two student teams from Robert May’s School in Odiham have designed winning race cars in the south London regional final of the F1 in Schools Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Challenge.

The winning cars have earned the two Robert May’s teams – Imperium and Rex – a place at the national finals at Autosport International Show at the NEC in Birmingham.

The competition, with three classes – entry, development and professional – challenges students to prepare business plans, design, analyse, make, test and race a scale model Formula 1 race car.

Winning at national level would give Imperium and Rex the opportunity to represent the country at the world finals, to be held alongside an international Formula 1 grand prix. In addition, the F1 in Schools UK champions will receive University College London engineering bursaries to the value of £5,000, a trip to the British Grand Prix with an exclusive paddock tour, and the UK Champions trophy.

The Imperium team – Amber Mylrea, Alistair Horobin, Adam Schuil-Brewer, Joey Dolphin, Charlotte Smith and Harriet Quarmby – were regional champions in the Professional Class and won the Best Engineered Car and Sponsorship and Marketing Awards.

The Rex team – Caitlin Ashwood, Orion Hamer, Lucy Millar and Louis Lowde – were placed third in the Professional Class.