KULAI: A team of students from SMK Bandar Putra Kulai emerged victorious in the national Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Racing competition in February.

The team, known as Team Layang, under the guidance of English teacher and team advisor Nor Masdiana Abd Rahman, outperformed 200 teams nationwide to clinch the title of National Champion.

Nor Masdiana said the team will now represent Malaysia on the international stage, with their next challenge taking them to the Middle East in November, where they will compete against top teams from around the world.

“The competition, formerly known as F1 in Schools, involves designing and building a scaled-down Formula 1 (F1) car, requiring students to use advanced engineering software typically reserved for final-year university students.

“At SMK Bandar Putra Kulai, however, students are introduced to Autodesk Fusion 360 and SolidWorks as early as Form One.

“Our students undertake research and development just like real-world F1 engineers. They conduct wind tunnel tests, material analysis, and wheel system tests, both virtually and physically.

The entire process takes about a year,” she said at a press conference held at the school on Saturday (March 8).

She added that after developing 16 iterations, the team’s final model, named Skylar, will be used in the international competition.

“While the programme does not aim to train professional F1 drivers, it equips students with the necessary skills to work in an F1 support team, from design and manufacturing to marketing and resource management,” she said.

Nor Masdiana also highlighted Team Layang’s achievements, including securing eighth place in the Fastest Car category at STEM Racing Singapore 2023 and ranking ninth globally.

“We now require RM100,000 in sponsorship to fund our journey to the international competition,” she said.

Kulai District Education Office (PPD) education officer Razali Tamadi praised Team Layang’s success, calling it a remarkable achievement for the district and the state.

“This is a huge accomplishment for our district, especially since our team was competing against elite schools, including full-boarding schools and top STEM institutions.

“Their efforts set a benchmark for other schools, inspiring more students to take up STEM as a field of interest,” he added.