GREEN powered cars have rocketed round the tracks thanks to engineering pupils at Chipping Sodbury School.

The school’s Greenpower team took to the circuits at Goodwood, in Sussex, for the 2009 environmentally-friendly car challenge.

Four cars were entered into two races, a speed test and a competition of endurance.

The first race, to see how far pupils could drive in 90 minutes, saw Chipping Sodbury School’s car come in eighth place.

Stephen Hunter, who helps manage the team, said: "Team Wacky Racers carried the flag for Chipping Sodbury School.

"They pitted their wits in a field of 23 cars from schools across the UK.

"At the end of 90 minutes they came home in a highly credible eighth place having completed 15 laps totalling 36 miles all under the power of two standard car batteries that could not be recharged."

The team meets every week in school and with help from experts, teachers and parents, pupils have built four cars powered by electricity.

The school’s top-performing vehicle the R-PodS achieved a second place podium spot in the four-hour challenge.

Added Mr Hunter: "Significantly, Chipping Sodbury School’s R-PodS and Rotary Racer were the top two placed school entry cards in the country.

"R-PodS achieved the feat of 50 laps which has only been achieved by two other cars in the history of Greenpower’s four-hour endurance race."

The Rotary Racer car also won an award for the best engineered car at the event.