MEMBERS of a school science and technology club impressed engineers from a leading off-road vehicle manufacturer when they competed in a national competition.

Greenfield Community College in Newton Aycliffe was the only school in the North-East to qualify for the finals of the National 4x4 in Schools Challenge.

The contest took place at the Land Rover factory at Halewood, near Liverpool, and saw youngsters from all over the UK put radio controlled 4x4 vehicles through a series of challenges.

Each team had de-engineered and reconstructed the vehicles at school beforehand and the Greenfield pupils, who are all members of the Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) club, had pushed their skills and knowledge to the limit.

Graphic design, plastic moulding, tilt sensors, steering re-alignment and the manufacture of light sensitive headlamps are just some of the processes the pupils undertook to achieve the exact competition standards.

Greenfield teacher David Spensley, who runs STEM club, said both school teams had performed well on the” treacherous” course, adding: “The final task was to compete in a trailer reversing competition.

“Greenfield’s David Hutchinson drove like a seasoned professional picking up just one penalty point which was the best of any team in the competition.”

When the final results were announced, both teams had made it into the top ten.

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