GIFTED students who wowed judges with their engineering skills have made the national final of a difficult competition - but need your help to get them there.

Students at The Sir John Colfox Academy competed in a cross-curricular STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) challenge offered by Land Rover/Jaguar and had to design a shell for a remote controlled 4x4 rock crawler vehicle, complete with automatic lights which came on in the dark and a tilt sensor which sounds when the vehicle tilts past 25 degrees.

The challenge required precise specifications and had to be completed in a limited time frame. They also needed to create a portfolio of their work, a pit display, a verbal presentation and code all of the electronics and fit them to the vehicle. All teams involves had to raise all the money for materials and team T-shirts for the regional final event themselves, and so were involved in fundraising or asking for sponsorship.

Colfox entered two teams of students and took both to the final. The first, STEMatics, was made up of Toby Pitfield, Ben Pimbley, Zac Dixon, Sam Hossack-Susans, Jack Edwards and Danny Cowburn. The second, STEM Storm Squared, was made up of Eddie Rose, Jake Randall and Cara Hatch.

On the day of the regional final, which took place at Flybe training academy in Exeter, the teams were judged on five different aspects and were grilled by three Land Rover/ Jaguar engineers on the design and manufacture of the shell. The judges also measured the car to ensure they met the precise specifications. Both teams’ cars met the requirements received full marks.

The second aspect of judging was portfolio and pit display presenting the teams' information, logo, designs, manufacture process and evaluation.

The third task was to drive the car complete with new shell around an obstacle course to see how durable their shell was. They had to complete this in a time limit with penalties for knocking over cones or falling off the course. They also had to drive it around a course towing a trailer.

The fourth aspect was similar to the first but this time they were grilled by the engineers on their engineering skills. They needed to explain how they came up with their ideas, how they coded the electronics and fit them to the car and how they tested and refined their car.

Their final task was their verbal presentation in front of a Land Rover/ Jaguar Engineer and a STEM ambassador.

The feedback for both teams from the judges was excellent and they won first and second place. STEM Storm Squared will progress to the national final in March and also won an award for the best engineered car. STEMatics came in second place.

A spokesman for Colfox said: "We are so proud of all of our students who took part. They have put in hundreds of hours of work on this project over the past seven months."

STEM Storm Squared is now actively seeking new sponsorship to help get them to the national final. They need money for materials to refine their design and also for transport and accommodation costs as the final takes place in the British Transport Museum in Warwick.

To donate, visit crowdfunder.co.uk and search 'STEM storm'.