Mildenhall College Academy becomes race track for rocket car challenge

Pupils from Mildenhall College Academy take part in the Bloodhound SCC Rocket Car Challenge. Picture: Daniel Todd (Image: Archant)

Pupils from Mildenhall College Academy designed, built and raced their own rocket cars as part of the Model Rocket Car Challenge from the Bloodhound Project.

Bloodhound, the engineering team behind the most recent attempt at breaking the land speed record, set up the national competition to inspire a generation of engineers.

Pupils from Mildenhall College Academy take part in the Bloodhound SCC Rocket Car Challenge. Picture: Daniel Todd (Image: Archant)

The youngsters put their cars to the test in the hope their design would be the fastest.

Pupil Ben Hobbs said: 'I decided to get involved as I thought it was cool to put a car and a rocket together and 'boom' it flies.'

Another, Noah Kline, said: 'It is a great experience and I am confident that my car will succeed'

Soldiers from the British Army help pupils from Mildenhall College Academy set up their rocket cars for the Bloodhound SCC Rocket Car Challenge. Picture: Daniel Todd (Image: Archant)

The results will be added to a national database to see if any of the cars qualify for the regional finals. If they do, a spot in the final at the Santapod Race Track in Northamptonshire is up for grabs. First prize is a trip to South Africa to meet the Bloodhound team.

Martin Sexton, IT and Computer Science teacher at the school, said: 'It is going really well so far and I am extremely proud of the students involved.

'I hope to run the event next year and inspire some more students'