A TEAM of schoolgirls have won third place in a national competition designed to test their creativity and innovation.

The F1 in Schools scheme has seen four students from St Joseph's College design, manufacture and race a model car.

Having won their regional event, they were invited to the national final at the Airbus factory in Broughton, Wales, to compete against 19 other teams.

Alex Mitchell, team manager, said: “I have learned a lot from my F1 in Schools experience. Teamwork is vital as you are spending a lot of time together.

"I am looking forward to competing in the professional class as team Illusion. I think it is important to show the world that girls can do STEM.

"The judges asked if we were from an all-girls school and were surprised that we were from a co-educational school.”

St Joseph’s entered several teams, but it was their all girl team who continued to perform the best.

After two tense days of racing in Wales, they won a podium finish and were presented with the Star Quality Portfolio Award and the Women in Motorsport Award.

The competition challenges students to prepare business plans, as well as designing, making and testing a scale model race car.

The team of four comprises of Alexandra Mitchell, Matilde Prates, Francesca Boula and Annabelle Aliare.

Andrew Denford, founder and chairman of F1 in Schools, added: "Bringing Formula One into the classroom with this programme really inspires the students and nurtures a passion for engineering, as well as developing the students’ life skills. They all learn so much, without realising it.”

The two-day competition tests their F1 car designs to the limit on track, as well as the students supporting work with a busy timetable of judging sessions.