UAE students' EVs go head to head in 90-minute showdown at Yas Kart Zone
6 May 2025 01:30
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)A team from the International School of Choueifat, Sharjah secured victory in the Greenpower UAE Grand Prix, an endurance race that brought together students from across the country to compete with electric vehicles built in the classroom. The winning team, VoltStar, combined to complete 79 laps of the Yas Kart Zone track at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit on Monday, three more than their nearest rivals, the Leopards team from GEMS Dubai American Academy.Finishing third after clocking up 74 laps were the Immortal Speedsters from GEMS Winchester School Fujairah. A total of 14 teams of 12 competed in the second edition of the event, all aiming to complete as many laps as possible in 90 minutes, with two driver changes allowed. Each team designed and built the electric kit cars as part of their studies.'The kids had a fantastic opportunity showcasing their abilities and passions in a non-strictly academic setting,' said physics teacher Davide Farina, who oversaw the project for the winning team. 'They're passionate and brilliant and I am so proud of them.' Ali Shaltoni, who shared the driving with Yasir Al Guburi and Yazen Al Guburi for the VoltStar team, said: 'Driving in the Greenpower race wasn't just about speed. It was about strategy, precision, and trust in the engineering. Every turn reminded me that teamwork and preparation make the win possible.'The other team members were Yara Alimam, Abdulhayee Yamin, Jameel Khan, Srinjay Shrinivas Shankar, Yousef Saleh, Maya Alaeek, Mariam Habib and Muhammad Areeb Muhammad.The race was organised by automotive events agency and consultants Pole Position, which runs the Green Power programme in the UAE, with the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) as its strategic partner. The programme aims to inspire students to explore careers in motorsport and electric vehicle engineering, while highlighting the importance of sustainability and reducing emissions.'It was very rewarding to see 168 fully committed students giving everything on the day, and we look forward to continuing with the development our non-profit programme. Our goal is to welcome at least 50 new schools each year, and with the support of the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, we're confident of achieving this target,' said Ryan Trutch, CEO and Founder of Pole Position.Eng. Fahad Al Hammadi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Support Services Sector at MoEI, said: 'One of the key priorities for the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure is to empower the next generations of innovators and sustainability champions, and we congratulate everyone who took part in the Grand Prix.
'The Greenpower Programme is an initiative that gives youngsters the opportunity to become part of the solution to global challenges. We encourage more schools to participate next year and open the door for their students to embrace innovative thinking.'
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