STEM Racing at BIS HCMC: Driving Innovation, Teamwork and Future Skills

A Showcase of Innovation, Creativity and Collaboration Leading to the World Stage

Discover how students at the British International School Ho Chi Minh City are racing towards the future through STEM Racing, applying skills in engineering, design, branding, business and enterprise while developing resilience, leadership and problem-solving through real-world competition.

At BIS HCMC, STEM learning extends far beyond the classroom. Through the internationally recognised STEM Racing programme, students combine science, technology, engineering and mathematics with creativity, collaboration, marketing, communications and entrepreneurial thinking in one of the world’s most exciting educational competitions.

In March, BIS HCMC hosted its annual BIS Grand Prix event. With 5 teams competing, this was one of the largest and most successful yet, bringing together students from across Years 7–13 to compete and learn in one of the school’s most exciting STEM competitions. The event determined which team would go on to represent Vietnam at the Aramco STEM Racing World Finals 2026 in Singapore.

Formerly known as F1 in Schools, STEM Racing challenges students to design, manufacture and race miniature Formula 1 cars powered by compressed CO₂ canisters. Teams take on professional roles spanning engineering, design, branding, finance, marketing and project management, developing both technical expertise and transferable real-world skills. Beyond the racetrack, students are assessed on areas including innovation, enterprise, verbal presentations and technical portfolios, making the competition a true showcase of all-round STEM excellence.

Dan Crittenden, STEAM Coordinator commented: “What makes STEM Racing so special is that it gives students the opportunity to apply their learning in a truly authentic way. From engineering and manufacturing to marketing and public speaking, students develop skills that will benefit them far beyond the competition itself”.

The BIS Grand Prix Competition Day

This year’s BIS Grand Prix brought together five teams competing for the opportunity to represent Vietnam at the Aramco STEM Racing World Finals 2026 in Singapore, creating an exciting and highly competitive showcase of innovation, engineering and teamwork.

Representing BIS HCMC were teams Nytra, Rasanter, Vielox and Astra, alongside guest team Rifters from our sister school, British Vietnamese International School Ho Chi Minh City (BVIS HCMC). Together, the teams created one of the most successful Grand Prix competitions to date.

The standard of presentations, technical portfolios and racing performance was exceptionally high, while the atmosphere throughout the day reflected the passion, professionalism and dedication shown by all students involved.

Throughout the competition, teams were assessed across multiple categories including verbal presentations, engineering quality, pit display design, portfolio judging and head-to-head racing.

One of the standout moments of the competition came from Nytra, whose remarkable 1.054-second track time would be competitive even at an international level. Their performance reflected months of precision engineering, testing and refinement.

Rasanter impressed throughout the competition with their creativity, professionalism and strong focus on branding and audience engagement.

During the car timing session, Vielox encountered a technical issue that required immediate repair. Their response demonstrated outstanding teamwork, composure and resilience as they worked together under pressure to overcome the setback and continue competing.

Astra demonstrated excellent teamwork and determination across the event, showcasing the months of preparation and development behind their performance.

Rifters from BVIS HCMC brought fantastic professionalism and team spirit adding to the excitement and collaborative spirit of the event.

The event also created a fantastic opportunity for younger students to engage with STEM learning in an exciting and inspiring environment. Throughout the day, students explored team pit displays, interacted with competitors and gained first-hand insight into the engineering and creative processes behind the competition.

At the end of an exciting and highly competitive day, team Vielox were announced as the overall winners of the BIS Grand Prix and are now excitedly preparing for the STEM Racing World Finals in Singapore later this year.

Congratulations to Lien Phuong, Martin, Ingrid, Sushi, JiYu and DongHa on this outstanding achievement.

Expanding STEM Racing at BIS HCMC

The success of this year’s BIS Grand Prix also reflected the continued growth of STEM Racing at BIS HCMC. Participation has expanded significantly in recent years, growing from just 12 Year 12 students a couple of years ago to more than 70 students across two competition divisions.

This rapid growth highlights the increasing enthusiasm for STEM learning across the school community, with students developing not only engineering expertise, but also creativity, resilience and real-world problem-solving skills through the programme.

This year also marked an exciting new chapter for STEM Racing at BIS HCMC with the introduction of two competition divisions: a Development Class, where younger students build foundational skills in car design, engineering, marketing and project management; and a Professional Class, where students apply these skills at an advanced level while competing for a place at the World Finals.

Development Class: Building Future Engineers and Innovators

One of the most exciting additions to the programme this year was the introduction of the Development Class. Designed for younger students, this division provides an opportunity to develop the foundational skills needed for STEM Racing in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Students were introduced to key areas including engineering design, CAD modelling, branding, sponsorship, teamwork and project management, while also developing confidence in presentation and communication skills. Throughout the programme, students worked collaboratively to solve problems, test ideas and learn how engineering concepts can be applied in real-world contexts.

The Development Class has already generated enormous enthusiasm across Years 7- 11, helping to create a strong generation of future STEM Racing talent within the school community.

Harry Starost, Business and Economics Teacher said: “Seeing students from Years 7 to 13 collaborating, problem-solving and supporting one another throughout the programme has been fantastic. The enthusiasm and professionalism on display really reflects the strength of the BIS community”.

Professional Class: Competing at an International Level

The Professional Class brought together BIS HCMC’s older and most experienced STEM Racing teams, with students dedicating months of preparation to refining every aspect of their performance.

Teams Nytra, Rasanter, Vielox and Astra worked extensively on engineering, aerodynamic testing, manufacturing, branding, sponsorship and enterprise development in preparation for the competition. Beyond the technical aspects of the programme, students developed valuable transferable skills including leadership, communication, collaboration and resilience. Balancing the demands of STEM Racing alongside their academic studies required exceptional organisation and commitment from every team involved.

Students spent months refining car designs, testing aerodynamic performance, creating sponsorship proposals, producing portfolios and preparing professional presentations for judging panels. The programme challenged students to think critically, solve problems creatively and perform under pressure in a highly competitive environment.

Chris Gildroy, Computing Teacher added: “It has been incredible to see how much the programme has developed this year. The students have shown outstanding commitment, creativity and resilience throughout the entire process, and the standard across all teams was exceptionally high”.

Team Vielox: Preparing for the World Finals

Following their success at the BIS Grand Prix, Team Vielox are now preparing to represent Vietnam at the Aramco STEM Racing World Finals in Singapore later this year.

Over the coming months, the team will continue refining their car design, testing performance improvements and further developing their technical portfolio and presentation materials ahead of the international competition.

Preparation for the World Finals will involve extensive testing, design refinement and collaboration as the team works to compete against some of the strongest STEM Racing teams from around the globe.

The World Finals will provide Team Vielox with an incredible opportunity to showcase their innovation, creativity and engineering talent on an international stage while representing both BIS HCMC and Vietnam.

Building on International Success

This year’s success builds on the achievements of Team Mercury VN, who proudly represented BIS HCMC at the 2025 Aramco STEM Racing World Finals in Singapore. 

The team — An, Anthea, Gia Phu, Nam Anh, Siyun and Subin — demonstrated exceptional technical expertise, collaboration and innovation on the global stage, while also winning the prestigious Autodesk Design and Make Award.

Their success continues to inspire the next generation of STEM Racing students at BIS HCMC and reflects the school’s commitment to providing meaningful, future-focused learning opportunities.

As the programme continues to grow, STEM Racing at BIS HCMC is helping students develop the skills and mindset needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world. From engineering and design to communication and leadership, the programme encourages students to think creatively, solve problems collaboratively and apply their learning through authentic real-world experiences.