Slipstream takes fourth place in car competition

EAST COUNTY — While other teams celebrated their winnings at the F1 in Schools national competition in May, Slipstream started planning for the Nov. 16 World Finals competition.

The East County students who make up the team — Domenic Aluise, Merritt Kendzior, Madelyn Kumar, Victoria Sinclair and Hannah Figueras — stayed up late in their Days Inn hotel room in Detroit to craft ideas for their next Formula 1 race car.

Each year, youths aged 9 to 19 who participate in in Schools strive to surpass the car and presentation they brought to the competition the year before. Students must also create an entirely new car and project after the national competition.

For six months, the high school students spent multiple days a week after school and on weekends brainstorming and preparing their project at “The 800,” a warehouse located off State Road 64 East lent to the group.

Their work didn’t go without reward. Slipstream won the “Best Team Sponsorship & Marketing” award and placed fourth at the World Finals held Nov. 16 through Nov. 19 in Abu Dhabi.

Thirty-eight teams competed at the global competition. The local team was the only United States group to receive a top 20 spot in the competition.

England, Australia and Germany secured the top three spots at the Finals.

For the five East County students, the experience leading up to the competition has taught the group life lessons.

“The World Finals and F1 in Schools have been the best experiences of my life,” Kendzior said. “We’re teenagers who essentially ran our own automotive company.”

BY THE NUMBERS
4 - place at World Finals

5 - members on Slipstream team

38 - teams at World Finals competition

814 - points received at Finals