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The GM homologation squad welcomed Brighton Grammar’s Ad Astra Racing team to its Mount Waverly headquarters, allowing the students a unique insight into the team’s operations. Ad Astra Racing will compete against 100 teams from over 50 countries at the World Finals, held alongside the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix on October 3-8. Made up of year 10 and 11 students, the team enters this year’s competition off the back of a semi final campaign last year. Fellow Brighton Grammar squad Team Lunar are the reigning world champions, adding to the school’s impressive record in the competition. STEM Racing challenges students to build and race a miniature CO2-powered Formula 1-style car. Covering all aspects of working in top level motorsport, students also manage the marketing, branding, partnerships and financial requirements of their team. “STEM Racing involves more than 1.8 million students around the world, with thousands of schools participating across Australia,” said Ad Astra communications director Jack Tan. “The competition involves designing and manufacturing a miniature CO2-powered Formula 1 car, but there is also a strong focus on developing the team’s branding, marketing and partnerships. “That’s how we connected with Team 18, and it’s quite fitting that we’ve been paired with them because Ad Astra Racing is also team number 18 in the competition. “Team 18 was incredibly generous in welcoming us to its headquarters and showing us around the workshop. “Meeting the mechanics, team principal and other members of the organisation, and seeing how a professional motorsport team operates, was an incredibly rewarding experience. “Our project is based around Formula 1, but for those of us who want to pursue careers in Australian motorsport, Supercars represents an exciting next step. “Seeing the cars and the team at work helped us visualise what our own futures in the industry could look like.” The students toured the workshop, with the opportunity to meet team principal Adrian Burgess, alongside its engineering, mechanical, partnerships and communications departments. “It was fantastic to welcome the students from Ad Astra Racing into Team 18 and learn more about what they have created,” said Burgess. “They were an incredibly professional group, particularly for their age. They arrived eager to learn, asked some excellent questions and were genuinely excited about their own program and the opportunities available within motorsport. “When they reached out and told us they were team number 18 in the competition, we thought it was a pretty good fit and were more than happy to help them. “Their program reflects many of the same elements we manage every day in Supercars. They need to design and build a fast car, but they also have to develop partnerships, manage a budget, market themselves and work together effectively as a team. “I started in motorsport at a young age without knowing exactly what the pathway to the top looked like, so it was rewarding to show these students around our facility and introduce them to the different roles within the team. “It’s important for young people to see what is possible and understand that there are many pathways into professional motorsport, whether that is through engineering, mechanics, management, commercial partnerships or communications.” The team has raised $80,000 of the $100,000 required to compete in Singapore, and is still seeking further support to make its World Finals campaign possible. CLICK HERE for more information about Ad Astra Racing