Congratulations to the IKB karting team for racing into 6th place at the recent national championship.
It was a fitting culmination of the IKB Academy project, which brought together ten boys from Wellsway, Broadlands, and Sir Bernard Lovell schools. The students, aged 13 and 14, who are all set to join IKB in September, were supported by two sixth-form engineering students at the academy, which specialises in science, technology, engineering and maths subjects (STEM).
Starting in February, the students designed and built their kart during after-school workshops. They tested and refined their design until they maximised the kart’s speed and reliability.
Four members of the team drove the kart at the championship, with the others acting as the pit crew.
Sponsorship from manufacturing firm Apex Pumps in Staple Hill, Bristol, and Bath software developer DevMonki Solutions provided vital funding for parts, tools, and materials.
IKB Head of School Pete Headeach said that creating the high-performance kart had given the group invaluable experience in STEM, teamwork, and project management.
“It has been a triumph of commitment, creativity and hands-on problem solving,” he said.
“Every part of the process—from initial set-up to the final test runs—was led by students, supported by staff, and powered by a shared passion for design and innovation.
“The students, ably led by our sixth form STEM ambassadors, have shown incredible dedication and gained real-world engineering experience. They have demonstrated not only the kart’s capabilities but also their own skills in analysis, troubleshooting, and collaborative working—hallmarks of future engineers and innovators.
“We’re proud of what they’ve achieved.”
