James Mitchell - PIV Engineer at Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1™ team
Key Facts
James Mitchell attending a STEM Racing UK event as a judge
Current role: PIV Engineer
Company: Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1™ Team
Country: STEM Racing Australia
Years competing: 2017 - 2023
School: Brighton Grammar School
Instant Appeal
“I first got involved in STEM Racing after seeing it demonstrated at my junior school assembly in 2016. Some of the older students were racing the cars down the track, and I remember being immediately fascinated by it, yet not being able to see over the track. I had always enjoyed designing and making different things, so the challenge felt like something I would really enjoy and want to be part of.
What appealed to me most was that it was not just about building the fastest car. It combined design, manufacturing, testing, teamwork, and sponsorship, which made it feel like a real engineering project. I was also lucky to have an amazing teachers around me who helped guide me into the competition and supported me throughout the journey which made it even more appealing to compete.”
Learning New Skills
“STEM Racing taught me a huge range of skills, both technical and personal. One of the biggest skills was teamwork. I learned how important it is to work effectively with other people, especially in an environment where everyone had different ideas and strengths.
It also taught me a lot about communication. Being able to explain ideas clearly, listen to feedback and present technical information in a way that others can understand became a really important skill I had to learn.
From a technical side, I developed skills in design, problem-solving, testing, analysis, and manufacturing. It taught me how engineers think, how to break down problems, test ideas, learn from failures and keep improving a design.”
James with his Constellation teammates in 2021
Competing in the 2023 World Finals
Determination is paramount
“I first started STEM Racing with a team called IHP Racing, where we competed at the State Finals. We qualified fourth and narrowly missed out on the opportunity to compete at the National Finals.
The following season, I was part of a team called Trifecta. We qualified for the National Finals as an international collaboration team with a school from New Zealand. We put in a really strong effort at Nationals but unfortunately missed out on qualifying for the World Finals.
The following year, I joined Team Constellation. At our first State Finals together, we came second, which qualified us for the National Finals. That National Final was completely virtual, and we ended up finishing fifth, again just missing out on a place at the World Finals.
We came back the next year even more determined. We won our State Finals, then went on to win the Australian National Finals, which earned us an invitation to the World Finals. We then competed at the 2023 World Finals in Singapore, where we placed 17th in the world.”
James alongside fellow Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1™ Team member and fellow judge, Ryan
“STEM Racing has definitely helped me build a career in Formula One. The skills and experience I gained through the competition played a big part in helping me get to where I am today, especially with my current role at Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1™ Team.”