Two teams from Beechwood Park School, Markyate, fought off stiff competition in the south east region finals of the Toyota Technology Challenge 2010 which took place at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford on Monday, April 26. Both teams won to go through to the national final which was held at Toyota's manufacturing plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire on Saturday, May 15.

Solar team members are Sam Machell, Tristan Brown, Robbie Lightowler and Felix Terrell. Their team name is SOLOR 7 - a play on Solar and 007.

The Pic team comprises Matthew Coster, Edward Horn, William Bigwood and George Poole. Their name VETRONICS, reflects the fact that Matthew is a veteran of last year's winning team and they are being sponsored by Merial, the veterinary supplies company.

The Toyota Technology Challenge, in partnership with Rapid, is a national technology competition aimed at students aged between 11 and 16. There are two categories: Solar Power and PIC Microcontroller. The challenge is to design and build an environmentally-friendly model vehicle for a chance to win up to £1,000 for the school, trophies, certificates and a six-day trip to Greece this summer. Teams earn marks for improving their vehicle's performance, making them environmentally friendly and creating their own team identity.

Lis Rowley, Head of Design Technology at Beechwood Park, comments: "I am so proud of our teams again this year. They have demonstrated terrific team work and creativity as well as engineering know-how."