Gosport students get top marks in national maths car challenge
YOUNG maths geniuses scooped top awards in a national maths challenge - by racing their own virtual sports car.
Andrew Rich and Daniel Cooper from Bay House School, Gosport, took the overall champions prize in the Jaguar cars maths in motion challenge for schools.
Jonathan Eaton and Paul Chester came second in the younger category.
In total 92 students from across the UK took part in the final, aged from nine to 16 years old.
Andrew, 15, said: 'Last year I entered the competition and got to the final.
'As I came second last year I felt like this year I had a lot to live up to.
'I wasn't really feeling very hopeful at first as I was 18th on the starting grid.
'But I worked my way all the way up to first place, which feels great.'
The teams had to set up a virtual racing car using a range of maths, science and strategy skills.
The youngsters then raced their cars in a computer-based simulation against each other.
The tricky part was they only had 90 minutes to complete the whole challenge which took place at the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire.
Jonathan, 13, told The News he was delighted to finish second in his category.
He said: 'It felt really special to be presented with a trophy and certificate for being second best in key stage three and seventh best in the UK overall.'
Daniel, 15, added: 'I have been doing this competition for a year-and-a-half now and I was really happy when I made it to the national finals.'
The idea of the challenge is to prove that maths can be fun and exciting for kids.
Brian Richardson, who organises the challenge, congratulated the boys from Bay House School.
He said: 'We are trying to encourage young people to work with each other and the team from Bay House was the epitome of that.
'Any school that makes it through to the final has already done very well and is to be congratulated and to become one of the three age group champions is really special.
'However, to become overall national champions is really something else indeed.'
David Edmead, maths teacher at the school, said: 'I have been running the Jaguar car challenge at Bay House School for only three years and to accomplish so much in such a short period of time is a fantastic achievement for the students.'
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