Team Roadrunner, made up of Stewart Coulden-Smith, Sam Hutson, Robbie Kieran, Lucy Owe, (all S5), Beth Henderson (S4), Sam Parsons (S3) and Rorie Stewart (S2), finished first in the challenge on Sunday, at the Grampian Transport Museum in Alford.

The teenagers won after completing the highest number of laps of a quarter-mile track in the F24 car which they designed and built themselves.

They will now go through to the UK finals at Goodwood Motor Circuit in West Sussex in October 18.

Team Roadrunner was joined at the competition by four other teams from Thurso – Wacky Racers, Road Blockers, Maverick, and all-girl team Angels – which are all part of the school's Young Engineers Club.

Thurso technical teacher Andy Ford, who has been involved with the club for seven years, told the Caithness Courier: "Roadrunner drove a consistent race and suffered no technical problems. They changed drivers quickly and changed batteries smoothly.

"For almost three hours, Wacky Racers, Roadrunner and Angels were first, second and third in the race, changing places as the minutes passed by."

He continued: "In the last hour Wacky Racers hit technical problems and had to go to the paddock for repairs. Team Angels had tyre problems and also had to go to the paddock. On Wacky Racers' return they had a tyre blowout and had to go back to the paddock again for repairs, and Angels, on replacing their tyre, then suffered a puncture."

Mr Ford explained that the Thurso cars dominated the race, and although slightly off the winning pace, having suffered a few technical problems of their own, teams Maverick and Road Blockers both completed the race as well.

Around 300 pupils from across Scotland took part in challenge, with primary school pupils competing in their final on Saturday.

Having started designing their cars in October last year, the Thurso teams began building them in January using a 24-volt electric motor and four 12-volt batteries, before testing them in Golspie two weeks ago.

Some of the pupils carried out trials using prototypes of their cars in February at Dounreay's former airstrip.

Mr Ford said the project did encounter some difficulties along the way, including components not being delivered, things not working and parts having to be rebuilt.

He explained that Roadrunner will be refining their car before going to the UK final later this year.

"The track at Alford was 0.25 miles, whereas at Goodwood Motor Circuit the track is 2.4 miles," he explained.

The teams have had support throughout the project by Young Engineers Club helper Gary Coulden-Smith, as well as financial help from local businesses and groups, including Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Nuvia, Thurso High School, Shell, Greenpower, the Bike Shop (Thurso) and JCI.

However, Mr Ford said the team is still looking for sponsors for overalls, a car data-logging system, tools and a full set of spare parts.

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