At IMCD Italy, we are passionate about investing in the future of science, technology and innovation. That’s why we are proud to support Team PowairX, the student team from BDC School, in their participation in STEM RACING (Formerly F1 in Schools), the global STEM competition backed by Formula 1.
A shared commitment to education and innovation
STEM RACING challenges students to design, build and race miniature Formula 1 cars while developing key skills in engineering, project management, sustainability and entrepreneurship. For the 2024/2025 season, IMCD Italy provided financial sponsorship and technical support, including the paint and the specific lubricant specially formulated for the car model’s kinematics. We have selected the proposed products to be derived from natural sources, sustainable, and highly biodegradable.
Competing in the North-West regional championship, PowairX advanced to the semifinals and raced at the iconic Autodromo Nazionale di Monza. The team was recognised with the prestigious Best Enterprise Portfolio Award, highlighting their sustainability, sponsorship strategy, and project storytelling strengths.
"PowairX began as a racing team in STEM RACING, but IMCD helped us accelerate beyond just speed.” Remarked the PowairX team, “their sustainable coatings and lubricants kept us driving fast, looking sharp, and proud of the values we represent."
As IMCD, we decided to endorse this project as the values and objectives of this program align with our own. We were excited by the opportunity to support the team not just through financial sponsorship, but by leveraging our sustainable solutions, the expertise and capabilities of our Coatings & Construction and Lubricants & Energy Labs, and technical specialists. Therefore, the recognition gained by the team makes us particularly proud.
Real-world experience, real-world impact
During the competition, students were challenged to develop and present three professional portfolios:
● Enterprise Portfolio: focusing on sustainability and partnerships
● Engineering Portfolio: detailing the design and mechanics of their model car
● Team Management Portfolio: showcasing organisation, logistics and planning
With a race time of 1.430 seconds, Team PowairX showed significant improvement from the qualifiers, a testament to their dedication and hands-on learning. The project gave students an exciting, real-world look at how STEM skills can drive innovation.
Although this year’s racing journey has come to an end, Team PowairX is already looking forward to the 2025/26 season, eager to return with new talent, new ideas, and even more ambition.
We strongly believe that nurturing young minds is key to building a more innovative and sustainable future. Supporting initiatives like F1 in Schools is one of the many ways we put this belief into action.
