MODEL race cars rocketed across a Clacton school’s netball court as engineers helped pupils build their own mini super speeders.

Engineers from the Bloodhound Super Sonic team took time out of their land speed record bid to visit Clacton County High School this week.

The team is aiming to break the 1,000mph record next year with its colossal rocket-powered car.

But Bloodhound engineers Allan Read and Peter Harrison turned their attentions to miniature speedsters during the school visit.

They masterminded a challenge for 60 keen pupils, creating mini model cars to race across a 25- metre track on the school netball court.

Clacton and Frinton Gazette:

Year Nine pupil Arjun Sureshbabu and Year Ten student Wesley Laing built the fastest cars – both hitting top speeds of 56mph.

Clacton County High School science teacher Lizzy Watson said: “It was absolutely brilliant. The pupils loved getting stuck into it, especially the racing aspect. They are all still talking about it.

“All of the students who took part were from science, technology, engineering and maths clubs within the school, so they had a real interest in it.

“A third of them were girls, which is a great response as we are trying to get more girls into engineering.

“It was really exciting and a great way to inspire the youngsters and get them thinking about this sort of thing as a future job.”

Arjun and Wesley will have their names printed on the tail-fin of the Bloodhound team rocket car for the land speed record bid as their prize.