Oxfordshire-based SMB Bearings (www.smbbearings.com) — a specialist supplier of precision and miniature bearings — has helped Tiro Racing, an F1 in Schools competitor, to win the title of English National Champions and go on to represent the UK at the world finals in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) in September.

Tiro Racing is a team of six engineering apprentices from Kingston College, South West London, and they are the first-ever apprentice team in the history of the F1 in Schools competition to reach the World Finals.

A range of EZO bearings, supplied by SMB, was used throughout the prototype and final construction stages in preparation for the regional and national finals.

Based on advice and testing, the team selected a stainless-steel/ceramic hybrid bearing for its final vehicle design; after two days of competition, the team were placed second overall in the UK finals and were also presented with the Best Engineered Car award.

SMB managing director Chris Johnson said: “We think that the F1 in Schools initiative is fantastic for capturing the imagination and developing the engineering aptitude of the future generation of design and manufacturing engineers.

“Giving children and students the opportunity to take their interest and skills in STEM subjects to the next level, in addition to competing on a national and international stage, will help position the UK as a nation of STEM innovators for years to come.”