SINGAPORE, Jan. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- North London Collegiate School (Singapore) proudly celebrates a remarkable triumph as MercuriX Racing is crowned the 2025 Singapore National STEM Racing Champions, an extraordinary achievement in only their second year participating, competing against 14 teams from 7 schools.
The team not only clinched the National Championship title but also secured wins as Knockout Racing Champions and the Best Video Presentation Award. Their outstanding performance has earned them the honour of representing Singapore at the 2026 World STEM Racing Championship, competing against the most accomplished young engineers across the globe.
What Is STEM Racing?
Supported by Formula 1®, STEM Racing, formerly known as F1 in Schools, is a prestigious international STEM competition for students aged 9 to 19 where participants design and manufacture miniature race cars using advanced CAD/CAM tools.
However, the competition extends far beyond engineering. Students innovate, collaborate, build brand associations, raise funds, and demonstrate prudent financial and time management, gaining practical competencies essential across professional industries.
The Team Driving Championship Success
Representing NLCS (Singapore), MercuriX Racing comprises six dedicated team members, Samuel (Team Manager), Braxton (Head of Engineering), Kerri (Manufacture Engineer), Yarun (Research Engineer), Evie (Head of Enterprise), and Denise (Head of Graphic Design). Each member brought their expertise to the table, creating a disciplined, communicative team united by a shared commitment to precision.
Head of Enterprise, Evie shared, "Seeing our identity come together across the portfolio, merchandise, social media, and pit display made all the long nights worth it. It made me feel like I helped shape how people saw us, and I am really proud of that.
Research Engineer, Yarun, added, "It taught us the importance of how a strong team isn't defined by job titles but by trust, collaboration and being there for each other."
Mastering Engineering Challenges with Innovation and Teamwork
This year's competition was among the most technically demanding, with many second-year teams competing for the National title and a place at the World Finals, but MercuriX Racing rose to the challenge. Using advanced tools such as Autodesk Fusion and ANSYS, the team simulated aerodynamics, refined structures, and evaluated performance variables before manufacturing began. Their final car was produced through a combination of CNC machining and 3D printing, resulting in a sleek, world-class design.
Manufacture Engineer, Kerri recalled that the team's biggest challenge was maintaining a high level of performance while still meeting strict regulations. However, they overcame this through an iterative engineering process of rapid prototyping, continuous simulation, and data-driven refinement.
"Through the multiple iterations of the car we had multiple 'eureka' moments that led to failure, but this experience taught us resilience and the value of further refining our ideas," Team Manager, Samuel added.
Crafting a Unique Team Identity
Beyond engineering excellence, the team delivered an impressive enterprise pitch and a cohesive brand identity grounded in their slogan, "Unleashing Speed and Engineering Excellence."
Denise, Head of Graphic Design shared, "MercuriX Racing is unique because of the team culture where everyone supported one another beyond their assigned roles, creating a team that was flexible, collaborative and deeply united. This identity helped us adapt quickly during the competition, solve problems faster, and stay confident when under pressure."
Insights from Mr Wilson Law on Building Success
For Wilson Law, Head of Design and Engineering at NLCS (Singapore), this year's success is the result of dedication and a strong culture of applied learning.
"STEM Racing reflects the kind of education we believe in at NLCS (Singapore), ambitious, academic, student-led, and grounded in real outcomes," he shared.
"Alongside my colleagues, our role was mainly to support and enable rather than direct, providing moral support, practical guidance at key moments, and the resources the team needed to execute well."
Looking Ahead to the International Stage
With their national win secured, MercuriX Racing now sets its sights on the STEM Racing World Finals 2026. Their goal is to refine their prototype, push boundaries, and represent NLCS (Singapore) with the same courage and excellence that brought them this victory.
Stay connected with MercuriX Racing on Instagram for more updates and to support them in this journey.
About North London Collegiate School (Singapore)
Founded in August 2020, North London Collegiate School (Singapore) is a British international school offering the academically ambitious NLCS curriculum, followed by the International Baccalaureate's Middle Years Programme and culminates in the IB Diploma Programme.
Drawing upon 175 years of educational heritage from its founding school in the UK, NLCS (Singapore) nurtures individuals to be intellectually curious, socially confident, and grounded in compassion. Every student is known, challenged, and celebrated through a rigorous academic framework, rich co-curricular opportunities, and exceptional pastoral care.
Situated on Depot Road, the school is part of a global family of schools committed to educational excellence and developing global citizens.
To learn more about NLCS (Singapore), please visit our website and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.
For media queries, please contact the NLCS (Singapore) Marketing Team
Email: marketing@nlcssingapore.sg
Or visit our website www.nlcssingapore.sg
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MercuriX Racing Wins STEM Racing Nationals 2025, to Represent Singapore
AUSTIN, Texas, July 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Saronic today announced it has selected Brownsville, Texas as the future home of Port Alpha, its next-generation shipyard designed to help restore American maritime strength and significantly expand the nation's shipbuilding capacity.
The announcement marks a major milestone in Saronic's mission to restore U.S. shipbuilding capacity at scale. First introduced as a vision for the future of maritime manufacturing, Port Alpha now moves from concept to reality through a planned investment of more than $3 billion that aims to establish one of the most advanced shipyards in the world, built for software-defined shipbuilding and autonomous maritime systems.
The project is expected to generate more than $160 billion in regional economic impact for Cameron County and $264.5 billion for the State of Texas, while creating up to 10,000 direct jobs. This makes Port Alpha one of the largest economic development projects in modern Texas history. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2026, with Port Alpha expected to open for operations in 2028.
The timing is pivotal. In one of his first actions in office, President Trump issued an Executive Order on Restoring America's Maritime Dominance, followed by federal initiatives such as the SHIPS for America Act and the Maritime Action Plan that call for a generational rebuild of the American shipbuilding industry. These efforts recognize that economic security and national security are inseparable, and that restoring U.S. shipbuilding capacity is essential to both. Port Alpha will expand domestic production capacity and strengthen the nation's ability to meet commercial and defense requirements while closing the widening shipbuilding gap with foreign adversaries.
"America's maritime future depends on our ability to build again," said Dino Mavrookas, Co-Founder and CEO of Saronic. "Port Alpha is our commitment to that mission. Built from the ground up to deliver ships at a speed and scale not seen since World War II, this investment is about more than constructing a shipyard. It is about rebuilding the industrial capacity, workforce, and manufacturing advantage required to ensure American maritime leadership for decades to come. The state of Texas and city of Brownsville give us the foundation to turn that vision into reality."
Following a year-long nationwide search evaluating sites across the East, West, and Gulf Coasts, Brownsville was selected after a rigorous review of workforce availability, infrastructure readiness, land scale, logistics, and expansion potential. Initially situated on 835 acres at the Port of Brownsville, with the opportunity to expand to nearly 4,400 acres, Port Alpha will encompass a shipyard and manufacturing facility capable of producing vessels up to 850-ft. Future site expansion could support the production of vessels over 1,200 ft. The site provides hundreds of acres of waterfront access, deepwater channel connectivity, multimodal logistics infrastructure, and room for long-term expansion—everything required to anchor a next-generation shipbuilding hub.
"Today marks history with the announcement of the most advanced shipyard in the entire world," said Governor Abbott. "When this shipyard gets fully built out, there will be about 10,000 employees. Saronic is going to be providing about $750 million in annual paychecks to Texans. That's game-changing for the population of Texas. As Governor, I'm proud that Saronic calls Texas home."
Over the next decade, Port Alpha is expected to create up to 10,000 high-quality direct jobs spanning skilled trades such as welding and machining to advanced roles in robotics, software engineering, and naval architecture. The project aligns with national calls to rebuild the maritime workforce pipeline, creating new opportunities for skilled workers at the intersection of shipbuilding and advanced technology. Saronic will collaborate with the State of Texas, Cameron County, and local educational institutions – from regional technical colleges to leading State universities and institutions – to develop workforce training and apprenticeship programs designed to sustain long-term industrial growth and position South Texas as a center of excellence for advanced maritime manufacturing.
Port Alpha builds on Saronic's expanding shipbuilding footprint. In early 2025, the company acquired a shipyard in Franklin, Louisiana, where it is investing $300 million to add 300,000 square feet of production capacity. That facility will continue producing Saronic's 180-foot Marauder autonomous vessel, which was designed and launched in less than one year. Together, these facilities represent a multi-billion-dollar private capital commitment to restoring American shipbuilding capacity, advancing autonomous maritime systems, and strengthening the nation's industrial resilience.
More than a shipyard, Port Alpha represents a new model for American shipbuilding—combining advanced manufacturing, software-defined production, and autonomy at unprecedented scale. To sustain that edge, Saronic is forging strategic partnerships with leading manufacturers, emerging shipbuilding technology providers, and premier suppliers, ensuring that the latest capabilities continuously strengthen and inform Port Alpha's production architecture alongside Saronics' in-house expertise. In doing so, Port Alpha embodies the transformation envisioned in national maritime strategy, one that leverages technology to strengthen deterrence, resilience, and operational flexibility. As construction advances, Saronic will continue working with federal, state, and local partners to establish the industrial foundation required for the next generation of maritime power in America.
Contact: press@saronic.com
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Saronic to Build Port Alpha, America's Next Generation Shipyard, in Brownsville, Texas
