500 young engineers race electric cars at Predannack Airfield

Children as young as nine spent two days racing electric cars around a Cornish airfield. They built the cars themselves.

More than 500 young engineers took to the track at Predannack Airfield for a series of youth racing events run by Greenpower, a STEM charity that gives students the chance to design, build and race their own electric kit cars. The idea is to bring engineering to life through practical, hands-on learning rather than lessons on a whiteboard.

Two race days covered both the Goblin category for ages 9 to 11 and the F24 challenge for older students. Each one marked the end of months of work, with teams putting their vehicles to the test on the track.

📷Photographer: Samm Lynch - Event: Lockheed Martin Predannack Heat - Circuit: Predannack Airfield - Location: Cornwall - Series: Greenpower - Season: 2026 - Car: ASAP Interceptor - Team: All Saints Academy Plymouth

From slalom to drag race

Young drivers showed off their skills and teamwork as they took on tight turns and went head to head in their self-built cars. The challenges ranged from a technical slalom to a drag race, and the older children faced a series of endurance races.

Pete Keegan of All Saints Academy Plymouth said his team had waited years for a day like this.

“We were thrilled to finally show the true race winning potential of our cars after years of steady, incremental development,” Pete said. “We’re incredibly proud of what the team has achieved, and winning the Ford Engineering Award for the fourth time just shows how extraordinary this group of students really is.”

He said Greenpower had changed things for both his current team and former students. “I love watching our students grow into problem solvers, creative thinkers, and genuine design engineers. Many of them have gone on to build extremely exciting careers in engineering.”

📷Photographer: Samm Lynch - Event: Lockheed Martin Predannack Heat - Circuit: Predannack Airfield - Location: Cornwall - Series: Greenpower - Season: 2026 - Car: ASAP Interceptor - Team: All Saints Academy Plymouth|

Longstanding support from Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin has backed Greenpower for 16 years. The sponsorship has funded school participation, paid for events across the UK and given thousands of students a real-world introduction to engineering. Company volunteers, made up of engineers and STEM advocates, mentored and supported teams at Predannack.

Tony Tite, Business Development Director for Lockheed Martin UK, said the location held some history for the company.

“It was a pleasure to be part of this fantastic event and to work alongside the Royal Navy in supporting such an inspiring initiative,” Tony said. “Having operated from Predannack on many occasions in the past and in recent years testing our new technology, it was especially rewarding to be back seeing this facility used for a quite different reason.”

He said Greenpower helped spark curiosity, build confidence and develop skills in young people across the UK.

The same runway that Lockheed Martin has used in recent years to test new technology spent two days as a race track for cars built by children.

📷Car: MK1 - Team: Mount Kelly - Photographer: Samm Lynch - Event: Lockheed Martin Predannack Heat - Circuit: Predannack Airfield - Location: Cornwall - Series: Greenpower - Season: 2026

📷Car: Redruth Racers - Team: Redruth School - Photographer: Samm Lynch - Event: Lockheed Martin Predannack Heat - Circuit: Predannack Airfield - Location: Cornwall - Series: Greenpower - Season: 2026

📷Photographer: Samm Lynch - Event: Lockheed Martin Predannack Heat - Circuit: Predannack Airfield - Location: Cornwall - Series: Greenpower - Season: 2026 - Car: ASAP Interceptor - Team: All Saints Academy Plymouth