Five talented pupils from Gusford Primary School in Ipswich, who constructed their very own “green power” car, were delighted to test drive it on a professional circuit track in Norfolk.

The Year 6 pupils made the car out of lightweight foam board, and this was then decorated with vinyl.

The pupils then travelled to the Lotus Test Circuit in Hethel, Norfolk, to see how well the car performed under pressure. 

The “Gusford Gusla” was placed 5th out of 19 cars on its first outing and the team are setting off for the next race at the Goodwood Motor Circuit in West Sussex later this month, racing against over 50 other cars. 

The Gusford pupils built the car in partnership with Greenpower Education Trust, a UK-based charity which promotes science and engineering to young people by challenging them to design, build and race an electric car.

The trust supplies age-appropriate Kit Cars, which can be built in school, and builds on the excitement of motorsport to inspire youngsters to consider a future education and career in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).

As well as developing STEM skills, the green power car project also helped the pupils to learn more about sustainability, an issue which is very important to Gusford Primary. 

The school’s commitment to environmental issues has seen it gain official Eco Schools status.

Gusford is now in the second year of this programme, which aims to empower children to make a difference to climate issues, and has received the much-coveted Eco Schools flag, which it flies from its flagpole.
 
Headteacher Stephen Tapley, said: “We are very proud of our pupils who worked diligently as a team to build their very own eco-friendly green power car. 

“We would like to thank the Greenpower Education Trust for their support in making this incredible opportunity available to our pupils and for helping them to develop an interest in science and engineering.

“Our pupils’ fantastic achievement has inspired all of us at Gusford to think about how we can strengthen our commitment to sustainability and environmental issues, as we continue our journey as an Eco School.”