THIS year is proving to be a very successful one for Crediton students involved in the national Jaguar Cars Maths in Motion competition.

The competition is a simulation of a Formula 1 race, in which students have to use their maths skills (percentages, ratio, long multiplication and long division, amongst other proficiencies) to design the fastest car. 

Earlier in the year, 70 of Queen Elizabeth's Community College best students took part in an internal school heat on the "Abu Dhabi" track.

The winning cars were then entered into the Devon final, where several teams from QE qualified for the next round.

The college then held another heat on the German "Nurburgring" track to determine the best car to enter for the national semi-final.

This proved to be a nail-biting race, with a matter of seconds separating the front-runners.

Ed Morgan and Jacob Westrip posted the fastest lap for pole position on the grid, but got their petrol levels wrong and slipped down the field.

Talia Sullens and Alisha Saunders were running strong, early on, before their car's engine blew up!

There were strong performances from Glen Chudley and Nathaniel Alcock, Savannah Clawson and Lydia Murray and from Matilda Durie and Celia Honan, but in the end the cars of Kit Richardson and Zubin Tucker from year 9 and Hannah Smith and Ivy Plato from year 10 won through.

Then, in the national semi-final, QECC's best cars successfully beat off the competition in both the key stage 3 and key stage 4 categories. 

The winners will now have the opportunity to represent the school in the national final, which will take place on June 24 at the National Heritage museum in Gaydon, Warwickshire.

Hannah and Ivy are "old hands," having finished third last year, winning the school a camcorder, a printer and a set of 30 calculators as a result and the girls will be looking to go two better this time round! 

The Hayward's school team have also performed magnificently and Tom Trowbridge, Alex Moir, Angus Storey and Sapna Rana will represent them in the primary schools race. 

John Wright, who teaches Maths at QECC explained: "120,000 students start this competition nationally and QECC are very excited to be down to the last 12 cars in every age group.

"The students are performing magnificently." He said, adding: "Good luck, petrol heads!"