Coyote takes third spot at Goodwood
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The challenge is a rapidly growing competition in which young engineers design, build and then race electric cars. The top teams produce cars that are amongst the most efficient vehicles to be found anywhere in the world.
The first race of the day was for the 16-25 years age group and included Mjolnir, driven by Stewart Coulden-Smith and Ross MacKay. Unfortunately, a mechanical fault meant the car was unable to reach its full speed but still managed to finish the 90-minute race in ninth place, which meant the pair finished the championship in seventh spot.
A total of 75 cars took to the grid for the day’s main event, the F24 grand final. Qualification had been gained at regional heats earlier in the year and the Caithness cars, Wacky Racer and Coyote, would start in 43rd and fifth places respectively.
Since the last heat a month earlier, both teams had worked hard to improve their cars and hopes of a good performance were high. The Union Jack fell to start the race and both cars got away well. At the end of the first lap Coyote was in third and Wacky Racer was also gaining places.
In a four-hour race reliability is crucial and both cars performed faultlessly.
Team strategy was to carry out compulsory driver changes early in the race, so at the halfway mark Wacky was in 48th position and Coyote in eighth but both had to make just one more stop. Thanks to excellent teamwork, the last stops went smoothly. Wacky was gradually reeling in the cars ahead and Coyote – now the fastest car on the track – was in fourth and rapidly closing on the car in front.
The chequered flag fell with Wacky finishing its final race before retirement in 38th, having covered 84 miles. Coyote finished third, beating their own Scottish record with a distance of 118 miles as well as taking the award for best engineered car. To put this achievement into perspective, Coyote could travel from Thurso to Inverness on just 20p worth of electricity.
The club has been supported by Pentland Electric Racing, Blargoans Ltd, Babcock International, Meygen, Dounreay Communities Fund, Meiklejohn Taxis, the Doris Grey Fund and North Highland College.
