HYDROGEN FUEL LAB NEWS

On Monday 24 March, students from the Hydrogen Fuel Lab program at St Patrick’s College Townsville competed in the Central Queensland University (CQU) H2GP Practice Race.

This was the very first time we’d had the opportunity to race the hydrogen-powered cars we’ve spent the term building and refining. With no previous on-track experience and limited time to test our systems under race conditions, we arrived at the event hoping to learn—but not necessarily expecting to place.

What we discovered was that our teamwork, preparation, and problem-solving under pressure paid off. The race was not without challenges, but we adapted quickly, communicated effectively, and kept our vehicle running smoothly through the endurance event.

The practice race has given us a much clearer understanding of how our cars respond in a real-world race environment. We’ve gathered valuable data, identified key areas for improvement, and gained confidence in our design decisions. More importantly, it has deepened our commitment to refining our vehicle and strategy for future races.

We’re now looking forward to our full-day workshop on Thursday 3 April, where we’ll put everything we’ve learned into action. This will be a chance to analyse our race data, troubleshoot weaknesses, and test changes before the North Queensland Hydrogen Grand Prix Regional Finals in May. We’re aiming to go even further next time—with more experience, more insight, and the same team spirit!

A big thank you to our sponsors (Edify and Siemens), our teachers (Ms Lancashire and Ms Stewart), and our supporters for helping us reach this milestone. Watch this space—St Patrick’s Hydrogen Fuel Lab is just getting started!