The Greenpower Goblins challenge is a practical engineering initiative that sees teams of young people design, build and race their own electric kit cars. Race day marks the culmination of months of teamwork, creativity and problem-solving as participants put their vehicles through their paces on the track.
The action‑packed event celebrated creativity, teamwork and practical STEM learning, as sixteen teams from schools and community groups across the North East arrived early to check in before heading straight into the morning’s challenges: the technical slalom and the thrilling drag race.
Young participants showcased impressive driving skills and collaboration as they navigated tight turns and raced head‑to‑head in their self‑built electric Goblin cars. The excitement continued into the afternoon with the sprint race, where teams competed to set the fastest lap times of the day. The atmosphere throughout the event was inspiring, with children demonstrating engineering initiative, enthusiasm, and teamwork.
Awards and Results
Taking home the overall win was St Stephen’s Catholic Primary School from Longbenton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, whose standout vehicle impressed judges with both performance and consistency across all challenges.
Additional awards recognised the creativity, effort, and sportsmanship on display:
Best Presented Team – Sacred Heart Primary School, from Fenham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Greenest Bodywork – The Hive Youth Zone
Best Bodywork – The Drive Primary School from Felling, Gateshead
Spirit of Greenpower Award – Western Community Primary from Wallsend
Speaking about the win, Mr Baines of St Stephen’s Catholic Primary School said:
“Taking part has been an incredible experience for our school. With the support of Rowland Hingston, a Greenpower Ambassador, and George Wright, a stem volunteer from Siemens, the build became far more achievable and gave our students a wonderful opportunity to develop real-world STEM skills. The competition was a fantastic day regardless of the result, but yesterday’s success made it extra special for our pupils.”
Long‑standing support from the Reece Foundation
The event was sponsored by long-standing partner Reece Foundation, a North East charity that supports initiatives to inspire young people to pursue careers in STEM. Terry Courtney, Reece Foundation Trustee, said:
“We are very proud to have supported the Greenpower Goblin Racing Challenge for many years now, helping to give young people across the North East the chance to experience engineering in such a practical, exciting and memorable way. It’s fantastic to attend events like this, which show how creativity, teamwork and problem-solving can spark a lifelong interest in STEM, and it is inspiring to see pupils really enjoying themselves whilst gaining confidence and developing skills that could shape their future careers.”
The Drive Primary School received funding from the Reece Foundation to enable them to take part in the event. Reflecting on the experience, Karina Cuthbertson from the school said:
“We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to take part in the Greenpower Goblin Race Day. It was a truly memorable experience for our pupils, giving them the chance to work as a team, apply their STEM learning in a real-world context, and build confidence through an exciting and inspiring challenge. Without the generous support of the Reece Foundation, this experience simply would not have been possible.”
Inspiring the Next Generation
The Goblin category of Greenpower Racing, designed for ages 9–11, continues to inspire the next generation by introducing engineering concepts in a fun, accessible, and competitive environment. Events like this highlight the importance of hands‑on STEM education and the power of teamwork from an early age.
Dawn Ross, STEM Hub Liaison Coordinator for the Yorkshire, Humber and North East England, visited the event to find out how Greenpower is helping more young people access STEM. She said:
“We were delighted to have the opportunity to visit the Greenpower race day and see the fantastic work taking place. We are proud that our STEM Ambassadors can support events like this, sharing their experience and helping to inspire the next generation.”
The Greenpower Gateshead event was a shining example of what can be achieved when young minds are given the tools and opportunity to innovate.
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