This marked Kingaroy's debut in racing hydrogen-powered model cars, making their win an extraordinary accomplishment. The victory is a testament to the many hours of hard work the students and teachers invested in creating a competitive vehicle. Over several months, the team virtually rebuilt almost every part of the original car, strengthening it and improving its performance. In the final stages, the car underwent a radical weight reduction to meet race specifications, resulting in a race-legal, high-performance machine with a clear race strategy.
The endurance race's objective was to complete the most laps in a four-hour period. The first hour saw numerous collisions, testing the car's durability. Thanks to some strategic use of super glue, the Kingaroy car remained intact. At the one-hour mark, while many cars were in the pits for repairs, the Kingaroy team led with 145 laps completed.
Over the next three hours, the Kingaroy team faced several challenges but maintained their lead, finishing with an impressive 542 laps, a full 33 laps ahead of the second-place team from the Northern Territory. This performance was remarkable, especially considering it was their first attempt. The team's intelligent design, consistent hard work, and commitment to excellence were key to their success.
The promise of hydrogen as a future fuel source means the team has acquired valuable skills and impressed many with their achievements. Special thanks go to Stanwell for their substantial support. Many Stanwell staff members mentored and supported the team, both at the school and the race, and provided significant financial backing. This support was crucial, and we are grateful that the team could return with a win.
The victory qualifies the team to participate in the World Championships in California in September.
Thanks to generous financial support from Stanwell, RES, Ken Mills Toyota and the South Burnett Regional Council, our team will be heading to the USA to contest the World Championships. To say we are buzzing with excitement and pride is an understatement!
