Goodwood hosts 1,000 young engineers as Greenpower International Finals race into West Sussex

More than a thousand young engineers from 130 schools and teams across the UK and overseas came to Goodwood Motor Circuit near Chichester on Sunday 18 October for the Greenpower International Finals 2026. The event is the national showpiece of a West Sussex-based education charity that is tackling the UK’s engineering skills shortage through a unique hands-on challenge.

Students aged 11 to 25 raced electric cars they had designed and engineered themselves in the Formula 24 and Formula 24+ categories, putting months of work to the test on one of the UK’s most iconic race tracks. Teams travelled from across the country and abroad to the Finals, which are the culmination of Greenpower’s annual programme.

A West Sussex charity with national reach

Greenpower uses the excitement of motorsport to inspire young people into science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) careers. From its West Sussex base, the charity guides students through the complete engineering process from design to race‑ready vehicle, giving them a real, open-ended engineering problem rather than a classroom exercise. The Finals at Goodwood bring the year’s work to a close on home turf.

Dr Nash Vracas, Co-Chair of Greenpower, said: “I’ve always believed that the best way to inspire young individuals into STEM is to give them an opportunity for hands-on experiences. When you build and race your own car, engineering stops being something you learn about in a classroom and becomes something you actually do.

“We see that all the time at Greenpower and it’s brilliant to watch young people develop skills, confidence and a real passion for engineering. It’s not just about what happens on race day, it’s about the opportunities that come from being involved and where those experiences can take them in the future.”

Why it matters for young people

The need is well documented. The latest ONS figures show nearly one million 16 to 24-year-olds in the UK were not in education, employment or training (NEET). On the demand side, the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Engineers 2030 report describes a chronic and growing shortfall in UK engineering skills capacity, and notes that one in four UK job adverts relate to engineering.

Programmes like Greenpower equip students with the technical and digital skills industry demands – from electronics to CAD and data analysis – alongside the teamwork, communication and problem‑solving abilities employers say are essential.

Seamus McDermott, Director of Commercial Vehicle Programs at Ford Motor Company, Greenpower’s National Partner, said: “At Ford, we value the practical engineering experience that Greenpower gives young people. Designing, building and racing electric vehicles develops technical knowledge, creativity, teamwork and problem-solving skills. These are qualities we look for in future engineers, and Greenpower provides valuable hands-on experience that helps prepare young people for careers in engineering and the automotive industry.”

Teachers say the challenge gives students a practical insight into what engineering is all about. Jason Kaine, a teacher at George Watson College in Edinburgh, said: “Greenpower has given so many of our students hands-on experience and the chance to follow a career in engineering. Solving problems, and learning that mistakes are part of the design process, is what builds strong teams and our future engineers.”

Getting involved in West Sussex

With its home in West Sussex, Greenpower is keen to see more local young people on the grid. Schools, colleges and employers in West Sussex and across Sussex who want to start a team, sponsor a local school or become a partner can contact Greenpower at [email protected] or via greenpower.co.uk.