YOUNGSTERS from an Odiham school have beaten teams from around the world to claim a Formula 1 engineering prize.

Team Colussus F1, made up of current and former pupils of Robert May’s School, were last night crowned world champions in the F1 in Schools World Finals.

After a week of competing against 37 other teams from 24 countries, the team received the Bernie Ecclestone World Champions trophy at a star-studded bash in Abu Dhabi.

They will receive City University London scholarships and a VIP paddock tour at this weekend’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg will go head-to-head for the F1 title.

Team manager Vicky Waterfield said: “I’m speechless, I think I need to pinch myself as I just can’t believe this has happened."

“We really didn’t think we’d win as there have been so many great teams competing.

“We have had an amazing experience and to win this has topped it. We’ve worked so hard, putting in eight hours at school and then another eight hours afterwards, but it really paid off.”

The title caps an amazing week for the team.

They set a new world record for firing their miniature F1 car up a 20metre track in 1.003seconds, beating a record that had stood for seven years.

As well as the overall title, they also picked up the Innovative Thinking Award, for their air cushion device which boosts the car’s acceleration, and the Pressure Challenge Award, for designing and 3D rendering an F1 helmet in under two hours.

As reported in The Gazette, Team Colossus F1 represented England at the finals, having competed at the national finals in Birmingham earlier this year.

The school, in West Street, Odiham, has a history of success in the competition, which is designed to promote engineering in schools.