Teams from two Perth schools are off to Germany this month to represent Australia on the world stage after powering to top honours at the 2025 Hydrogen Grand Prix (H2GP) WA Finals, an event blending high-octane racing with hands-on renewable energy education. 

Team Mazzarati from Mazenod College claimed first place overall, while Speedy Gonzales from Belridge Secondary College became the highest-placed all-girls team. Both teams will be competing in the H2GP World Finals in Germany later this month. 

The WA finals, hosted at Murdoch University, brought together high school teams from across the state to design, build and race hydrogen-powered remote-control cars in a gruelling endurance format.  

Students were responsible for every aspect from engineering and pit strategy to data analysis and repairs under pressure, with races lasting up to four hours locally and six hours at the Worlds. 

Smooth is fast: Mazenod winning formula

For Mazenod College's Team Mazzarati, their victory was the result of months of fine-tuning, problem-solving and a shared passion for RC engineering. 

Lead driver Zachariah said the team's strategy was built on endurance and consistency. 

"I've been training a lot with the endurance side of it, focusing on avoiding as many cars as we can. We also had a strategy to change drivers every 40 minutes so we could even out the load." 

Team strategist Stuart highlighted the importance of preparation, adding;"I record data for the team and come up with ideas on what we can do to improve our results. On race day I also swap out the canisters and help in the pits." 

I was gobsmacked — I'm going to Germany for RC cars, my passion. It's amazing." Lincoln, second driver and engineer. 

Both Zachariah and Stuart said the competition broadened their perspective on hydrogen. 

"I'm really interested in what other car manufacturers can do with hydrogen and hopefully we can solve this energy crisis with it," Zachariah said. 

Stuart added: "It's impressive how hydrogen recharges the battery and just produces water, instead of emissions." 

Belridge's breakthrough: A girls in STEM milestone 

Breaking the glass ceiling of female STEM success is Belridge Secondary College's Speedy Gonzales team, an achievement the team's members say was built on teamwork, resilience and a drive to challenge perceptions. 

Chief mechanic Harper said: "I was interested in how cars could run without fuel like petrol and I wanted to learn how to efficiently work in a team." 

Second mechanic Ashleigh said problem-solving under pressure was a highlight for her.  

"My favourite part was meeting the other teams, learning how they dealt with their problems and working in a fast-paced environment making split-second decisions." 

The venture also provided team captain Taryn with the opportunity to test her skills in leadership. 

"Leading a team comes with a unique set of challenges, but it's been a great experience to mentor my teammates and learn what works well." 

The Belridge students also showed a clear grasp of hydrogen's potential. 

"Hydrogen is a really good source for this competition — fast refuelling, renewable potential — but it's also expensive and tricky to store," driver Emily explained. 

Top end of town support 

Sponsored by Chevron Australia, the H2GP is part of a global initiative which uses motorsport to inspire young people to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and clean energy. 

"This program is about more than racing," said David Fallon, General Manager Energy Transition at Chevron Australia, who delivered the opening remarks.

"It's about empowering young people to see themselves as part of the energy transition – as scientists, engineers and changemakers." 

Proud moment for WA 

Bibra Lake MLA Sook Yee Lai, who attended the WA finals event, praised the students' achievements. 

"It was incredible to see the talent, creativity and passion of our young people on display at the Hydrogen Grand Prix", she said. 

"Programs like H2GP provide important hands-on learning experiences for students, encouraging them to think critically and discover the role they can play in our State's clean energy future. 

"As a former educator, I know it is vital to create pathways that connect classroom learning to real-world opportunities." 

The H2GP program aims to equip students with real-world engineering, teamwork and problem-solving skills, while sparking interest in renewable energy careers. Students must design efficient cars, manage energy consumption and handle pit operations, all while competing in long-duration endurance races. 

For many participants, the program has already influenced their career thinking. 

"I went from wanting to become a surveyor to wanting to be an engineer or car manufacturer," said Mazenod's Zachariah. 

Harper from rivals Belridge said: "It's widened my interest in what jobs could be down this path and how to get more young girls into STEM." 

With the WA finals now complete, all eyes turn to Germany, where both Perth teams will compete against the best in the world in a six-hour race, plus an additional two-hour Girls in STEM event. 

As Chevron's David Fallon said: "It's about empowering young people to see themselves as part of the energy transition – as scientists, engineers and changemakers."