Cobra Racing: Meet The 2nd Year Naas Community College Students Aiming For STEM Racing Success

Tuesday, 1 April 2025 10:40

By Eoin Beatty

Cobra Racing Team: (L-R) Charlie Derham, Craig Giles, Padraig Byrne & Daniel Wilson

The Cobra Racing team will compete in the National STEM Racing Finals on May 13th

A group of students from Naas Community College have set their sights on success at the National STEM Racing Finals in Kinsale, County Cork this coming May.

The Cobra Racing team is made up of four 2nd year students; Daniel Wilson (Naas), Charlie Derham (Naas), Craig Giles (Sallins) and Padraig Byrne (Sallins) and assisted by their teacher Ms. De Barra.

STEM Racing, formerly F1 in schools, is an international STEM competition endorsed by Formula 1 for students aged 9–19.

Groups of 3–6 students have to design and manufacture a miniature F1 car using CAD/CAM and CAE design tools.

The cars are powered by CO2 cartridges and are attached to a track by a nylon wire.

They are timed from the moment they are launched to when they pass the finish line by a computer.

The cars have to follow extensive regulations, in a similar fashion to Formula 1 e.g. the wheels of the car must be in contact with the track at all times.

The cars are raced on a 20m long track with two lanes, to allow two cars to be raced simultaneously.

Last year was Cobra Racing's first year at STEM Racing.

They were the only 1st year team at the National Finals, and the only team not in Transition Year.

Overall, they placed 12th out of 24, and won the Judges’ Choice award - a trophy that sits proudly in the foyer of Naas Community College.

Cobra Racing have again qualified for the National Finals this year, which will take place on the 13th of May in Kinsale, County Cork.

Kfm visited the school to speak to the team as they prepare for the finals and they say they are determined to build on last year's result.

You can listen to that interview below and keep up to date with the team's progress on their self-built website https://cobraracing.ie/

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