SCHOOLCHILDREN swapped their classroom for a racetrack and put their engineering skills to the test.

They took part in a national competition, the Jaguar Landrover Primary School Challenge, to design and build the fastest car possible.

On the Isle of Wight, the racing was held at the CECAMM centre in Whippingham.

Sixteen teams from nine primary schools battled it out for the podium positions.

The winners were Gurnard Primary's Speed of Lightning and Shooting Cars teams, who came first and second, respectively, and Turbo Turtles, from Nettlestone Primary, who came third.

They will go on to compete in the national final, in Warwickshire, on June 11.

Gatten and Lake's two teams, Ultra Astros and Galaxy Paws, swept the board in the other categories, winning the engineering and best verbal presentation prizes.

Roland White, from the IW College, said: "The judges all commented very positively on the children’s enthusiasm, entrepreneurship and competitive spirit."

The entries were judged by professionals including challenge co-ordinator Mick Gibson, GKN engineer Richie Craddock and CECAMM staff.

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