Skip to content
Rolling ThunderSTEM Racing
Next event / East Anglia Regionals

Racing for students.

Rolling Thunder is the student Formula 1 team at Thorpe St Andrew School in Norwich. We design, manufacture, and race a miniature car in F1 in Schools — then take it to the national final.

Next event

East Anglia Regionals

06

Team members

03

Regional awards

2023

Founded

Our partners help us turn a CAD file into a race car.
Thank you for backing the next generation of engineers.

Mythic Beasts
KLM
City, University of London
Image Experiential
SimScale
Ansys

Engineered for the grid.

A simple, obsessive process so we can spend race day finding tenths. From the first CAD sketch to the last timed run, every decision is deliberate.

MODEL / 01

We build every part parametrically in Autodesk Fusion, then check assemblies, clearances, and weight against the regulations before anything gets cut.

See engineering

First-class race engineering.

We do not just draw the car and hope. Structural and aerodynamic analysis decide where the material goes and what shape the body takes.

Analysis / 01

Finite Element Analysis

Before a part is machined, we run finite element analysis to understand how it will behave under load. We model the chassis, wing mounts, and wheel fixings, apply realistic launch and landing loads, and look for the areas that move or deflect more than they should.

The results change the design. Material gets added where stress concentrates and removed where it is doing nothing. The goal is a lighter car that still survives scrutineering, a bad run, and the occasional trip off the end of the track.

Toolchain / Autodesk Fusion

Analysis / 02

Computational Fluid Dynamics

Aerodynamics is where a tenth can disappear without touching the motor. We use computational fluid dynamics in SimScale to model airflow over the body, compare drag and downforce, and test changes before they become physical parts.

We run multiple ride heights and yaw angles, study the wake, and refine the body until the numbers stop improving. The final shape is validated on the track, not just on screen.

Toolchain / SimScale

Beyond the car.

A fast car is only half the competition. We also build the brand, the portfolio, and the pit display — and we can explain every one of them.

AERO-01

Aerodynamics

CAD, CFD, and a lot of sanding. We shape every surface for a clean launch and a straight 20-metre run.

The team behind it
CHS-02

Chassis

Balsa, printed jigs, and machined tolerances. The car has to survive scrutineering before it can be fast.

The team behind it
WHL-03

Wheels & bearings

The least glamorous subsystem and the easiest place to find a tenth. Alignment, spin, and rolling resistance.

The team behind it
ENT-04

Enterprise

Brand, portfolio, pit display, and presentation. A quick car is only half the competition.

The team behind it

The trophy cabinet.

Two seasons, three awards, and one class still to be decided. Select a season to see the result.

2024–2025 / Entry Class

Regional finals

East Anglia Regional Finals

Entry Class

Our first full competition season. The car, the portfolio, and the pit display all came together at the right time.

See the engineering

1st Overall

Entry Class

Best Engineered Car

Entry Class

The people behind the car.

Six students building the car, the brand, and the season. Meet the 2026–27 crew.

Crew / 01

STEM Racing

OT

Oliver Tarbin

Team Manager

Crew / 02

STEM Racing

OO

Oscar Odell

Design Engineer

Crew / 03

STEM Racing

AC

Alex Chouliaras

Software Engineer

Crew / 04

STEM Racing

SW

Samuel Webster

Sponsorship Manager

Crew / 05

STEM Racing

CD

Charlie Dickerson

Technical Advisor

Crew / 06

STEM Racing

JS

Jacob Soanes

Graphic Designer

Six roles / one car

Get in touch.

Sponsorship, media, or just a conversation about the 2027 car — the team is always happy to talk.

East Anglia Regionals 2027 / UK