A TEAM from a school in Darlington took part in an electric car endurance race at Croft Circuit this week.

Carmel RC Technology College competed against teams from as far afield as Alnwick and Rochdale after designing and building battery-powered vehicles for the Greenpower school electric car races. The aim was to cover the furthest distance in four hours around the circuit.

Best performing teams were Mortimer Primary School, South Shields, which won the Formula Goblin stage; Ripon Grammar School, which finished third in regional heats; and Emmanuel College, Gateshead which won the best newcomer award.

Other entries came from Grangefield School, Stockton; George Stephenson High School, North Tyneside; Settle College, North Yorkshire; St Aidan's CE High School, Harrogate; Duchess's High School, Alnwick; St Bede's Catholic Comprehensive School, Peterlee; Emmanuel College, Gateshead; and St Anthony's RC School, Sunderland.

Geoff Clack from sponsors EEF said: "The Greenpower competition gives school pupils hands-on experience of engineering, it is an excellent way for them to see how enjoyable and rewarding engineering can be.

"By getting pupils hooked on engineering while they're still at school, Greenpower and EEF hope to inspire the next generation to develop solutions."