If your kid has ever looked at a race car and said, “I can build something faster,” congratulations — their moment has officially arrived. ADNOC Yas in Schools has just dropped the Formula Ethara GP Challenge, and trust us, this is not your average science project. This is motorsport main character energy for UAE’s next generation of creators, designers, and future pit-lane legends.
And the best part? The winner gets to watch the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix live — yes, as in “I-was-there-when-the-season-ended” kind of bragging rights.
What’s the Challenge?
Think of it as a creativity-meets-racing mashup, where students aged 8 to 13 get to flex their imagination, sketch out bold ideas, and dive into the world of motorsport design — all during F1’s most electric weekend of the year.
Applications are open until 24th November, which means the countdown has officially begun. If your kid lives for design, tech, problem-solving, or simply speed, this is the ultimate playground.
How It Works (And Why It’s So Cool)
The Formula Ethara GP Challenge breaks the fun into stages — like a video game but with more glitter and engineering:
1. Build Your Dream Team
Create a team name. Design a logo. Pick your colours. Basically, become the CEO of your own tiny racing empire.
2. Design Your Motorsports Brand
Young innovators will use a special digital template to create their car livery — AKA the outfit their car wears. Bold, minimal, futuristic, wild — anything goes, as long as it screams speed.
3. Pitch It Like Pros
Applicants record a short two-minute video, explaining their idea and introducing themselves. Think Shark Tank, but cuter and with fewer billionaires.
The Final Showdown at Yas Marina Circuit
A panel of judges will choose the finalists, who’ll then be invited to Yas Marina Circuit on Saturday of the F1 Qualifying.
Yes, the real deal. Yes, where all the goosebumps happen.
Here, finalists will:
- Build their very own Formula Ethara car
- Race against other young innovators
- See what teamwork + innovation + precision looks like in world-class racing
Basically, it’s STEM meets adrenaline.
And Then Comes the Big Prize…
The overall winner returns on Sunday to watch the season finale live, as F1’s top drivers battle it out under the Abu Dhabi sunset. Imagine being 10 years old and telling your friends on Monday: “Sorry, can’t relate. I was at the Grand Prix yesterday.”
Life-changing? Absolutely.
Final Lap
The Formula Ethara GP Challenge isn’t just a competition — it’s a launchpad for future engineers, designers, and dreamers. It’s where creativity meets motorsport magic, where imagination turns into engineering, and where young minds get a taste of what it means to build the future.
So if your kid has that spark — that “I want to make things” energy — this might just be the beginning of something legendary.
