Irish 2026 STEM Racing National Champions revealed

Students from Marist College Athlone have been crowned National Champions at the 2026 STEM Racing (formerly F1 in Schools) Ireland National Finals following a day of intense competition in Kinsale, Co. Cork.

Team Stellar Racing fought off competition from teams representing secondary schools from across Ireland during the prestigious national event, which challenged students to design, manufacture and race miniature Formula One-style cars while also developing skills in engineering, branding, enterprise and teamwork.

2026 STEM Racing National Champions

The podium was completed by Treoluas Racing from Loreto Secondary School Kilkenny in second place and Apex Racing from Athlone Community College in third.

This season also marked a major milestone for the competition, which officially rebranded globally from F1 in Schools to STEM Racing. The new name reflects the programme’s continued growth beyond Formula One-inspired engineering into a broader STEM-focused educational experience encompassing science, technology, engineering and mathematics, while maintaining its close links with the world of motorsport.

As the top three teams in the country, Stellar Racing, Treoluas Racing and Apex Racing will now go on to represent Ireland at the STEM Racing World Finals in Singapore later this year, competing against some of the top student teams from around the globe.

Commenting on the victory, Team Manager Ruairi Collins from Stellar Racing said:

“We’re delighted to be named National Champions. As a team, we’ve learned a huge amount throughout the competition, from engineering and design to communication and teamwork. Getting the chance to represent Ireland at the World Finals in Singapore is incredibly exciting, and we’re really looking forward to the challenge ahead.”

Alongside the overall competition results, a number of special awards were presented recognising excellence in areas including engineering, enterprise, verbal presentation, sponsorship and teamwork.

Speaking after the event, Donal McDermott of STEM Racing Ireland praised the commitment and creativity shown by students and teachers throughout the season:

“STEM Racing is a fantastic opportunity for second-level students to explore the worlds of business, leadership, engineering, science and technology before deciding what path they want to take after secondary school. This year’s competition has been brilliant, giving students the chance to develop new skills, work as part of a team, and meet other like-minded young people from across the country.

We’re encouraging more schools, teachers and parents to get involved next year and give students the opportunity to take part. STEM Racing opens doors for participants in so many ways, including the chance to represent Ireland at the STEM Racing World Finals and meet some of the biggest names in the world of Formula 1.”

STEM Racing Ireland is part of the world’s largest STEM competition, challenging students to design, manufacture and race miniature Formula One-style cars. The programme encourages students to explore careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics through an exciting and immersive learning experience combining engineering with branding, marketing and entrepreneurship.

Registration for the 2026/27 STEM Racing Ireland season will open in August.

For more information, visit stemracing.ie or contact [email protected].

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