CMF Hosts its First STEM Racing National Finals

CMF Hosts its First STEM Racing National Finals

by | Apr 27, 2026 | Events, News, STEM

Students from five local schools—John Gray High School, Cayman Prep & High School, Layman E. Scott High School (Cayman Brac), Cayman International School, and Grace Christian Academy embarked on an extraordinary journey at the John Gray High School Gymnasium

Cayman Motoring Federation Hosts its First STEM Racing National Finals, Showcasing the Future of Innovation and Talent

George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands has marked a historic milestone in education and innovation with the successful hosting of its first-ever STEM Racing National Finals, delivered by the Cayman Motoring Federation (CMF) as the official In-Country Coordinator for STEM Racing Supported by F1.

Over the course of the 2025–2026 season, which began in September 2025, students from five local schools—John Gray High School, Cayman Prep & High School, Layman E. Scott High School (Cayman Brac), Cayman International School, and Grace Christian Academy—embarked on an extraordinary journey combining engineering, branding, project management, and teamwork. The National Finals represented the culmination of months of dedication, creativity, and skill-building.

Held at the John Gray High School Gymnasium, the Finals brought together teams, educators, judges, and supporters to celebrate student achievement in a programme that goes far beyond traditional STEM education. Students designed, manufactured, and raced miniature Formula 1-style cars using industry-relevant tools such as CAD/CAM software, while developing critical life skills including communication, leadership, and strategic thinking.

Teams competed across a range of rigorous judging categories for up to 960 points, including:

  • Engineering & Design – assessing the technical quality and performance of the cars
  • Enterprise & Project Management – evaluating business planning, budgeting, and team organisation
  • Branding & Pit Display – showcasing creativity, identity, and marketing execution
  • Verbal Presentation – testing communication skills and the ability to present under pressure
  • On-Track Performance – where precision, speed, and engineering excellence came to life on the race track

The energy in the venue was electric as teams watched their cars launch down the 20M track, with split-second timing determining success. For many students, this was their first experience in a high-performance, competitive environment—mirroring the excitement and intensity of professional motorsport.

The event was honoured by the presence of Hon. Isaac Rankine, Minister for Youth, Sports, Culture & Heritage, and Hon. Rolston Anglin, Minister for Education and Training, both of whom expressed strong support for the programme and its role in shaping the future of Cayman’s youth.

Minister Rankine commended the initiative for its alignment with youth development and national sporting pathways, noting the importance of providing opportunities that inspire discipline, innovation, and ambition.

Minister Anglin highlighted the programme’s impact within schools, emphasizing how STEM Racing is equipping students with real-world skills that extend beyond the classroom and into future careers in engineering, technology, and beyond.

Both Ministers recognized the National Finals as a defining moment for education and youth development in the Cayman Islands.

The Cayman Motoring Federation extends its sincere appreciation to STEM Racing USA for its continued guidance and partnership, including the support of Brian Kendzior, Executive Director/Co-Founder, and partner Allison, whose expertise and commitment have been instrumental in delivering the programme to international standards.

The success of the National Finals was also made possible through the generous support of sponsors. Led by Cayman Customs Automotive as the title sponsor, alongside valued partners, CUC, Cayman Airways, Hampton by Hilton, Tony’s Toys, ShorLabs and the Ministry of Education and Training, who continue to invest in youth development, innovation, and the future of motorsport and STEM in the Cayman Islands.

The 2026 National Finals saw outstanding performances across all teams, with students demonstrating remarkable growth and achievement throughout the season.

 Award Winners included:

  • Pit Display Award: Scorch Racing (CPHS)
  • Project Management Award: Scorch Racing (CPHS)
  • Design & Engineering Award: Apex Racers (LSHS)
  • Scrutineering Award: CIS Racing (CIS)
  • Enterprise Award: Apex Racers (LSHS)
  • Verbal Presentation Award: Apex Racers (LSHS)
  • Team Identity Award: Apex Racers (LSHS)
  • Best Engineered Car Award: CIS Racing (CIS)
  • Fastest Car Award: Velocity X (at 1.298 seconds) (JGHS)
  • Best Sportsmanship Award: Apex Racing (LSHS)
  • Chair of Judges Recognition of Achievement Award: Apex Racing (LSHS)

 Overall Results:

  • 3rd Place: Grace Stem Racing (Grace Christian Academy) – 382.0 Points
  • 2nd Place: Scorch Racing (Cayman Prep High School) – 409.5 Points
  • Cayman Islands National Champions 2026: Apex Racers (Layman E. Scott High School) – 542.1 Points

Teams can gain a total of 960 points.

While trophies were awarded, every student who participated in the programme from September 2025 to April 2026 is recognized as a champion. Each team demonstrated resilience, creativity, and a commitment to learning that reflects the very best of the Cayman Islands.

Jane Scaletta, President of the Cayman Motoring Federation and In-Country Coordinator for STEM Racing, stated: “This moment represents far more than a competition—it is the culmination of a vision to bring world-class STEM opportunities to the Cayman Islands. From September last year to today, we have watched students transform into engineers, leaders, and innovators. Their confidence, creativity, and determination have been truly inspiring. We are incredibly grateful to STEM Racing USA; our sponsors led by Cayman Customs Automotive; our educators; and our volunteers who made this possible. This is only the beginning, and we look forward to seeing even more students join us next season.”

Following a successful inaugural season, the Cayman Motoring Federation looks forward to building on this momentum, with the next STEM Racing season set to begin in September 2026 through April 2027. The programme continues to expand opportunities for students across the Islands, strengthening pathways into STEM careers, motorsport, and global competition.

This first STEM Racing National Finals is not just an event—it is the beginning of a movement. One that is shaping Cayman’s future engineers, innovators, and leaders whose potential is only just being realized.

Media Contact:
Cayman Motoring Federation
info@caymanmotoringfederation.org

About the Cayman Motoring Federation

The Cayman Motoring Federation is the FIA-recognized National Sporting Authority for motorsport in the Cayman Islands, responsible for governing and developing motorsport while promoting youth education, community engagement and road safety.

CMF Launches First-Ever Auto Slalom League

CMF Launches First-Ever Auto Slalom League

by | Apr 13, 2026 | Events, News, Road Safety, Slalom

The Marshalls at the opening round held at Fosters Airport Overflow Parking Lot.

Cayman Motoring Federation Launches First-Ever Auto Slalom League with 2026 Season Opener

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

The Cayman Motoring Federation (CMF) has officially launched its first-ever National Auto Slalom League, marking a significant milestone in the development of grassroots motorsport in the Cayman Islands.

What is Auto Slalom? Auto Slalom is a precision-based motorsport discipline where drivers navigate a timed course marked by cones, typically set within a controlled environment such as a parking area. The focus is on vehicle control, accuracy, and consistency rather than outright speed, making it one of the safest and most accessible forms of motorsport. Drivers compete individually against the clock, with penalties applied for hitting cones or missing course elements, encouraging disciplined and skillful driving.

What is the Auto Slalom League? The Auto Slalom League is a structured six-race championship series where drivers compete across multiple events throughout the year, earning points based on their performance at each round. Consistency and progression are key, with results from each event contributing toward overall standings and end-of-season awards. The League format creates a clear pathway for driver development, encouraging participants to build skill, compete regularly, and measure improvement over time in a safe and competitive environment.

The opening round held at Fosters Airport Overflow Parking Lot, held on April 12 and sponsored by Jacques Scott and Heineken 0.0, saw eight drivers take to a precision-based slalom course designed to test control, consistency, and driver skill. Competitors participated across Stock and Modified categories, with results determined by a combined score of each driver’s best two of three timed runs.

CMF President & Event Secretary, Jane Scaletta, quoted “This first Auto Slalom event of 2026 represents a defining moment for grassroots motorsport in the Cayman Islands. We are building more than competition—we are creating a structured, safe, and sustainable pathway for drivers to develop their skills. It’s incredibly encouraging to see the level of interest and engagement from our community.”

The opening round held at Fosters Airport Overflow Parking Lot. VW-GTI taking on this precision-based slalom course designed to test control, consistency, and driver skill.

Toyota Starlet taking to this precision-based course

Tesla testing agility on this precision-based course

Chief Marshal and Driver

Driver Collaboration

Winners for the event included first place in the Stock category, Damean (Max) Simpson with 85.86 in a BMW E90, and first place in the Modified category, Rory Scheepers with 69.88 in a VW GTI. The fastest single lap time of the day was recorded by Adis Kevorkian with 33.26 in a VW GTI. All demonstrated the high level of performance achieved in the League’s inaugural event.

Rory Scheepers, CMF Member & Race Director, said “The level of driving we saw today was impressive, especially for the opening round of a brand-new league. The course challenged precision and consistency, which is what Auto Slalom is all about. It’s exciting to see drivers already pushing themselves to improve with each run.”

The 2026 Auto Slalom League will consist of six rounds, forming Cayman’s first structured national auto slalom championship. Upcoming events are scheduled for the year with a final awards ceremony to be held in December recognizing overall champions and standout performances;

  • May 31
  • July 12
  • August 9
  • September 20
  • October 25

Tech Team

All events are delivered in accordance with FIA-aligned auto slalom (Motorsport in a Box) regulations and are supported by trained marshals certified through FIA programs. The Cayman Motoring Federation continues to invest in capacity building, with ongoing training for stewards and race directors throughout 2026 to ensure the highest standards of safety and governance. The event was supported by a dedicated team of 10 volunteers working across marshalling, timing, and race control, ensuring a safe and professionally executed competition.

Rhondel Ramdath, CMF Vice President & Chief Marshal, noted “Safety is at the core of everything we do, and this event showcased the strength of our trained marshal team operating to FIA standards. The discipline and professionalism on display ensure that drivers can compete in a controlled and secure environment. This is exactly the foundation we need as the sport continues to grow locally.”

Sustainability remains a core pillar of the League. Through its partnership with Refuel, CMF integrates environmentally responsible practices into its events, including reduced emissions initiatives, recycling, and efficient resource management.

The League also emphasizes inclusion and participation, with a “Most Improved Female Driver” award presented at each event, alongside end-of-season recognition for overall league champions, category winners, and most improved drivers. We know we’ll see more females in the upcoming events.

Designed as both a competitive and educational platform, the Auto Slalom League provides a safe, controlled environment for licensed drivers aged 17 and over to develop advanced driving skills. The Auto Slalom format promotes precision handling and hazard awareness, supporting the Federation’s broader goal of encouraging safer and smarter driving across the Cayman Islands.

CMF Karting Commissioner Adis Kevorkian & Clerk of the Course, noted “Designing a course like this is about balancing challenge with safety, and today’s layout delivered both. Drivers had to think, adapt, and execute under pressure, which is exactly what develops real skill. This is a strong start for what will be an exciting and competitive season.”

Drivers may participate in individual events or compete across the full six-race championship series.

The launch of the Auto Slalom League represents a major step forward in CMF’s mission to build a sustainable, accessible, and internationally aligned motorsport framework for the Cayman Islands.

Media Contact:
Cayman Motoring Federation
info@caymanmotoringfederation.org

About the Cayman Motoring Federation

The Cayman Motoring Federation is the FIA-recognized National Sporting Authority for motorsport in the Cayman Islands, responsible for governing and developing motorsport while promoting youth education, community engagement and road safety.

STEM Racing Cayman Awards Celebrate Student Innovation

STEM Racing Cayman Awards Celebrate Student Innovation

by | Dec 19, 2025 | Events, News, STEM

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

The Cayman Motoring Federation (CMF) proudly hosted the STEM Racing Cayman Islands Regional Awards Ceremony on 15 December 2025 at the Cayman Prep and High School, recognising the exceptional dedication, creativity, and technical skill demonstrated by Caymanian students who competed at the STEM Racing USA Regional Finals.

The 2024–2025 STEM Racing Cayman Islands programme proudly included students from five high schools all competing in Development Level:

  • John Gray High School
  • Layman E. Scott High School
  • Cayman Prep and High School
  • Cayman International School
  • Grace Christian Academy

The ceremony brought together students, teachers, parents, and programme supporters to celebrate months of intensive preparation—spanning engineering design, manufacturing, branding, data analysis, and competitive racing. The event was opened by Cayman Prep & High School Principal, Mr. Karl Murphy, and mc’d by CMF President Jane Scaletta, who welcomed attendees and praised the students’ commitment, teamwork, and professionalism throughout the season. She also thanked Cayman Customs Automotive, the main sponsor of STEM Racing Cayman Islands.

STEM Racing Cayman Islands Regional Winners 2025

STEM Racing CMF President Jane Scaletta

“What makes STEM Racing so powerful is that students are challenged to think like engineers, entrepreneurs, and professional athletes all at once,” said Scaletta. “The level of excellence we saw this year reflects not only talent, but discipline, resilience, and a genuine passion for learning.”

CMF is thrilled to recognise the top-performing teams from the Cayman Islands at the Regional Finals:

  • Regional Champions – Brac Racers, Layman E. Scott High School
  • Second Place – John Gray Blazers, John Gray Racing
  • Third Place – Scorch Racing, Cayman Prep and High School

    But the success didn’t stop there. Cayman teams also earned an impressive range of Special Awards, highlighting excellence across technical, creative, and communication disciplines:

    • Best Verbal Presentation – Brac Racers
    • Sponsorship & Marketing Award – Scorch Racing
    • Team Identity Award – Scorch Racing
    • Video Challenge Winner – John Gray Blazers
    • Fastest Car (1.340 seconds) – Brac Racers
    • Best Engineered Car – Brac Racers
    • Best Designed Car (with Halo) – Cayman International School

    STEM Racing Cayman Islands Regionals 2025 Stage Setup

    About STEM Racing Cayman Islands

    STEM Racing is a globally recognised, project-based learning programme that challenges students to design, manufacture, test, and race miniature Formula 1–style cars, while also developing skills in engineering, entrepreneurship, branding, project management, and public speaking.

    Students compete across three progressive competition classes:

    • Entry Level – Foundational STEM concepts, teamwork, and design principles
    • Development Level – Advanced design analysis, aerodynamics, and enterprise skills
    • Professional Level – High-level engineering, data-driven performance, and professional presentations

    At Regional Finals, teams are evaluated across five core judging categories:

    • Engineering
    • Enterprise
    • Verbal Presentation
    • Racing Performance
    • Scrutineering

    The STEM Racing Cayman Islands programme continues to serve as a cornerstone of CMF’s youth development and education strategy—providing students with real-world experience aligned with careers in engineering, technology, motorsport, design, and business.

    As the evening concluded, one message resonated clearly: the Cayman Islands is cultivating a generation of innovators ready to compete—and succeed—on the global stage.

    The next event will be on 25 April 2026 for the STEM Racing Cayman Islands Nationals which concludes the programme for the year. The programme will start again in September 2026.

    About the Cayman Motoring Federation
    The Cayman Motoring Federation (CMF) is the FIA-recognised National Sporting Authority for motorsport in the Cayman Islands. CMF is committed to developing safe, inclusive, and sustainable motorsport while using motorsport as a platform for education, youth engagement, and community impact.

    For more information about the Cayman Motoring Federation or partnership opportunities, please contact:

    Cayman Motoring Federation (CMF)
    PO Box 1521, Grand Cayman KY1-9006
    Email: info@caymanmotoring.com
    Phone: 1-345-916-6599

    Final Autocross of the Year Concludes With Strong Community Turnout

    Final Autocross of the Year Concludes With Strong Community Turnout

    by | Nov 18, 2025 | Events, News

    Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

    (CMF) proudly wrapped up its final Autocross event of the year with an impressive turnout and nine enthusiastic entries, marking one of our most engaging community motorsport days to date.

    Drivers competed across three exciting categories: Heavy/EV, Medium Power/Saloons, and High Power/Exotic, showcasing skill, control, and motorsport passion on the autocross course.

    CMF congratulates the top performers in each class:

    Heavy/EV Category
    1st Place – Rory Scheepers/Audi Q3: 64.393
    2nd Place – Damean Simpson/BMW X5: 71.469

    Medium Power/Saloons Category
    1st Place – James Taggart/Porsche Boxster: 64.615
    2nd Place – Jane Scaletta/Porsche Boxster: 72.71
    3rd Place – Kim Rhone/Audi A4: 84.251

    High Power/Exotic Category
    1st Place – Adis Kevorkian/VW GTI: 59.09
    2nd Place – David Ledger/VW GTI: 66.58
    3rd Place – Ricardo Dennis/Toyota GT Turbo Starlet: 70.45

    Autocross is more than a competitive motorsport

    it’s an important contributor to road safety in the Cayman Islands. By giving drivers a controlled, supervised environment to test vehicle handling, braking, and maneuvering skills, CMF helps participants become more aware, confident, and responsible behind the wheel. Many drivers report improved reaction times, better hazard anticipation, and a deeper respect for safe driving practices on public roads. In alignment with CMF’s commitment to sustainability and its FIA Environmental Accreditation efforts, the event incorporated several eco-conscious practices. These included reducing paper usage through digital timing sheets and registrations, encouraging ride-sharing among participants, and reusing event equipment such as cones, timers, and tires. CMF also partnered with Refuel Cayman to conduct a sustainability survey, offering $25 Refuel fuel gift cards as
    incentives to engage the community in greener event practices.

    Looking ahead, CMF is excited to announce plans for six autocross events in the 2026 season, complete with a structured league component that will allow drivers to accumulate points throughout the year. Additionally, the federation is exploring the introduction of karting elements to enhance driver development and provide new opportunities for motorsport
    participation across all ages.

    CMF extends heartfelt thanks to all drivers, volunteers, and supporters who made this year’s autocross events successful. Together, we continue driving Cayman’s motorsport culture forward—safely, sustainably, and with community at its core.

    STEM Racing Reaches Cayman Brac

    STEM Racing Reaches Cayman Brac

    by | Nov 13, 2025 | News, STEM

    Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands

    The Cayman Motoring Federation (CMF) Executive Committee members, Jane Scaletta/President, Dr. Anthia Richards/Secretary, and Dail Davis/Director, proudly delivered the state-of-the-art Denford CNC MCR 100 machine and Roll Out Track to Layman E. Scott Sr. High School in Cayman Brac today, marking a historic milestone for STEM education and motorsport development in the Sister Islands.

    This installation represents a transformative moment for Cayman Brac—providing students with access to world-class technology and hands-on engineering experience through the STEM Racing programme. With these tools, students can now design, machine, test, and race their own miniature F1 model cars using Autodesk Fusion and the same engineering processes used by real motorsport teams around the world.

    A Major Step Forward for Cayman Brac and the Cayman Islands – For the first time, students on Cayman Brac will participate fully in the national STEM Racing programme, joining their peers across the Cayman Islands in one of the most innovative STEM initiatives in the region. This advancement not only supports academic enrichment but also sparks future career pathways in engineering, design, technology, and motorsport.

    CMF extends heartfelt thanks to its sponsors and supporters who have helped bring this vision to life:

    • Cayman Customs Automotive — whose belief in the programme from its inception and continued sponsorship has driven its growth and success.
    • Caribbean Utilities Company (CUC) — whose support ensures students have access to the essential materials and resources needed to compete at an international standard.
    • The Ministry of Education — whose commitment to STEM and youth development has made it possible to introduce advanced engineering tools into Cayman’s secondary schools.
    • Cayman Airways – dedicated to helping CMF deliver STEM Racing equipment and consumables to Cayman Brac.

    Their shared dedication has empowered Caymanian students to explore engineering, problem-solving, innovation, and teamwork through the STEM Racing programme.