Ballyclare Secondary School’s Greenpower racing team 'Forget Fossil' produced a remarkable performance at the Greenpower F24 International Final, finishing 12th overall in the very competitive Kit Car category.

The team in car number 43 laid down a strong marker early in the day during the October 18 event, taking fifth place in Race 1 with a best distance of 35.77 miles.

They maintained their momentum into Race 2, finishing 11th with 35.29 miles, bringing their combined efforts to an impressive 12th place overall among the top 50 international kit car entries.

Ballyclare’s 12th-place finish saw them outpace a field of high-caliber international and UK teams. Notable competitors finishing behind Forget Fossil included teams from Belgium, Australia, Norway, Spain, Canada as well as many prestigious UK independent schools.

The team travelled to Goodwood Motor Circuit in England to compete in the International Greenpower competition as part of the Forget Fossil Racing team.Photo: Ballyclare Secondary

placeholder image — The team travelled to Goodwood Motor Circuit in England to compete in the International Greenpower competition as part of the Forget Fossil Racing team.Photo: Ballyclare Secondary

The success on the track was built on exceptional teamwork in the pit lane. Early in the event, the pit crew Riley, Joss, Jason and Jayden faced an unexpected challenge when a wheel alignment issue led to rapid tire wear, requiring an emergency, split-second tire swap.

The team responded with total composure, rectifying the alignment problem on the fly and completing the tire change seamlessly. That sharp execution carried over into every pit stop, where smooth, lightning-fast driver transitions kept the Forget Fossil kitcar in contention and maximized their track time throughout both races.

The trio of drivers, Charlie, Joey, and Ryley proved to be a formidable lineup, matching razor-sharp driving with smooth, seamless driver handovers.

This impressive performance marks the team's highest-ever result at the International Finals, comfortably beating their previous best of 19th place set last year.

Pupils working on their car. Photo: Ballyclare Secondary

The team have thanked their principal sponsor, NIE Networks, along with Agnew Recovery, Garren FM, Used Cars NI, SVR GO, WJ Blair, Woodside Logistics Group, Dennison Commercials Ltd, and Nutts Corner Racing: “Without their incredible generosity and ongoing support, our young people simply would not have had the chance to enjoy these life-changing opportunities and unforgettable racing experiences.”

The Greenpower F24 Kit Car Challenge, which is open to 12 to 15 year olds, aims to inspire young people to develop their skills in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) by challenging them to design, build, and race their own single-seat electric car.