The Hull Street Race in 2019
More than 5,000 people watched the Hull Street Race in 2019.

Hull Street Race to brings thousands into city centre again

Thousands will line the streets of Hull again next year as electric racing returns to the city.

The hugely successful Hull Street Race will be back in May 2020, a year after more than 5,000 people watched young racers speed around a track in the city centre.

The closed-road electric race sees young people aged nine to 25 racing single-seater cars they have designed and built themselves.

The 2020 race will build on the success of this year’s inaugural event. It has again been organised by Greenpower Education Trust and supported by Hull City Council, Drax, Phillips 66 and Hull College Group.

Greenpower provides young people with the opportunity to design, build and race electric cars at a host of events throughout the year, culminating in an international final.

The maiden Hull Street Race in April this year proved incredibly popular, with more than 57 teams competing for glory in the three categories: Formula Goblin (ages nine to 11), IET Formula 24 (ages 11 to 16) and IET Formula 24+ (ages 16 to 25).

About 5,000 people attended the previous event, as teams and supporters descended on Queens Gardens.

Councillor Stephen Brady, Leader of Hull City Council, said: “We are delighted to support this fantastic project which gives young people the opportunity to learn practical engineering skills as well as how to work as a team through support from local mentor companies. As we saw earlier in the year, it is a wonderful sight to see these teams racing through the city centre and we look forward to the return of the event.

“This event encourages young people in the STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering and maths by offering pupils a creative way to learn about these key subjects and hopefully one day have the option of an exciting and rewarding career in these sectors. It also showcases our ambitions to be a low-carbon, connected and competitive city.”

The Hull Street Race was one of Greenpower’s biggest events, in the organisation’s 20th anniversary year, which championed the importance of the STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering and maths. The charity has been shortlisted for a prestigious STEM Inspiration Award for its work on the race, with the ceremony set to take place on Tuesday 5 November at the House of Lords.

Banksy scaffolding
James Dickinson, head of Hull Music Service, outside the Albermarle Music Centre.