The H2 Grand Prix Pro series offers school pupils the chance to design and build a remote controlled racing car, with a top speed of up to 37mph, powered by hydrogen, and race it in a four hour grand prix against teams from across the UK – and then the world.

The program empowers students to be the problem-solvers of tomorrow, connect with the Earth's automotive industry, and gear it up with renewable energy technology. 

The team of Year 10 students travelled to Scotland for their UK final, winning both the Design and the Innovation prizes, finishing as top England team. The H2GP World Final will see the 40 best student-led teams from across the world compete, qualifying from a program of over 4,000 students and hundreds of schools. The school took two teams and the other team came second.

Student Jacob Wright, 14, said” This is a once in a lifetime opportunity – I don’t think it’s something that will ever happen again. I can’t imagine ever getting to do this in the future without school. I really hope we can get to LA!”

The Los Angeles final takes place at the RE+ renewable energy trade show, attended by over 60,000 RE professionals from over 100 countries. In order for the Prince Henry’s students to attend, the school is seeking sponsorship from the local community.

 “We could not be more proud of our students – this really is an amazing opportunity for them, which they have secured by hard work and innovative thinking. We wish we had the budget to just send them to LA, but we are hoping that our local community will help us get them there. If you watched The Apprentice this year, you will have seen the huge sums which sponsorship on racing cars attracts – this is an opportunity for local businesses to sponsor a grand prix team for much less!” said Sally Bishop, Headteacher.

If you would like to discuss sponsoring the team, please email info@princehenrys.co.uk FAO Pippa McPherson or ring her on 01943 463524.

The HG2 Grand Prix says “The growing demand for energy in end era of manmade climate change may ultimately be the greatest challenge of the 21st century. We need the creativity, ingenuity and critical thinking skills of the generation coming of age today now more than ever. The Horizon Hydrogen Grand Prix is a comprehensive science and engineering program that gives students from all over the world the opportunity to apply their talents as they learn about environmental sustainability, renewable energy and alternative fuels, through variety of science experiments and curricular materials.”

To win the competition, students must apply a wide range of knowledge. Their task is to design, engineer and build their own fuel cell-powered RC car and test it during a 4-hour race. From the earliest conceptual stages to maintaining and repairing their car during the race, students are in control of every step of the process, enabling truly immersive experience that captures the rigor and excitement of real-world science and engineering. 

In addition to learning to work together to complete a complex, long-term engineering project, students are exposed to many different technologies related to renewable energy through lab activities and reading materials.

Earlier this year, Year 12 students from Prince Henry’s placed as the top non-fee paying school in the Oxbridge Chemistry Race, another example of the opportunities which this high-achieving state school offers its students.