The Land Rover 4×4 in Schools Technology Challenge is a STEM enhancement and enrichment initiative that gives young people an insight into what it takes to become an engineer. The project hopes to raise awareness, interest, enjoyment and enthusiasm in, science, technology, engineering and maths through a practical ‘hands on’ experience.

The challenge is aimed at young people aged 11 – 19 years old (key stages 3, 4 and 5) and involves 4 to 6 team members working together to design and build a radio controlled 4-wheel-drive (4×4) vehicle to set specifications, that can successfully negotiate a specially designed test track that emulates that of real life and what a full scale 4×4 vehicle can do. Teams entering the challenge will spend a number of weeks designing, researching, building and project managing their 4×4 vehicle to enter it into a regional heat to compete against other schools from their area. Regional winners will be selected via a judging process to go through to the National Final where they will compete again but this time against the other regional winners to become the Land Rover 4×4 in School Technology Challenge RSA National Champions. For more information or to register for the challenge please visit https://sangari.co.za////register-2 and select the 4×4 Challenge.

Each team must consist of a minimum of three and maximum of six young people from within the age group or aged between15-19. The young people may all be of the same age or a mixture of young people of different ages. Educational organisations may set teams with young people from across different year groups. Teams of more than six will not be allowed to enter the competition. All teams must follow a safe working practice at all times of their vehicle build. 

• A fun hands-on STEM activity
• Promotes real life problem solving and learning
• Develops design, manufacturing, team work, communication & business skills
• Higher Education / career path advice and support
• An opportunity to take part in a International challenge

The challenge is split into two classes for entry into the competition, class 1 and class 2. Each team must decide which class they would like to enter before registering to compete at a regional heat. The two classes will be judged separately to each other and separate awards will be presented. New Teams (“Rookies”) can enter either Class 1 or Class 2 of the challenge. In addition to the Class 1 and Class 2 judging, Rookie teams from both Classes will be judged together and a “Best Rookie” from each region will be invited to attend the National Final along with the overall regional winners, first place Class 1 and first place Class 2. The Rookie teams will be measured on three points:

1. New school,

2. New teacher,

3. New team/students.

Teams that match all three points (3/3) will be classed as full Rookies and will be compared against other full rookies at the regional. In the event of no full rookies, teams with 2/3 points will then be considered and so on.

Class 1 – This class is open to new (“Rookie”) and existing teams who design and manufacture their vehicle to the rules and regulations, manufacturing as a minimum the vehicle body, vehicle chassis and all vehicle electrics (light and tilt sensor) themselves. In addition, teams must have either manufactured or purchased and modified other elements of the vehicle such as the drive train, suspension, steering and wheels. Any off the shelf items used must be declared in the team’s portfolio and Bill of Material (B.O.M).

Class 2 – Any team entering the challenge for the first time can opt to enter “Class 2” by purchasing a Land Rover 4×4 in Schools starter kit (recommended) containing a Losi1/18 Mini Rock Crawler remote control vehicle. Other rock crawler models are available but may not be suitable for the competition. The starter kit will also include a vehicle battery and battery charger. This vehicle will be allowed to be entered into the challenge however Class 2 team’s must manufacture their own vehicle body, the vehicle electrics (light and tilt sensor) and have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the vehicles suspension, drive train, chassis and wheels. Teams entering the challenge can only compete in the Class 2 for one year and then enter in Class 1 of the challenge for following years. New “Rookies” teams can only consist of 1 previous rookie team member. Rookie teams are encouraged to think ahead to entering Class 1 and will be quizzed by judges during regional heats on how and what they would do.

Class 2 or Rookie teams (not schools) that have entered in previous years wanting to re-enter the 2015/16 challenge can only enter as a Class 1 team. These teams may reuse components from their rookie vehicle but as a minimum must alter/modify the vehicle body, vehicle chassis and all vehicle electrics (light and tilt sensor) themselves, on top of either manufacturing or purchasing and modifying other elements of the vehicle such as the drive train, suspension, steering and wheels.