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Teenage team from Whyalla wins world grand prix after earlier heartbreak

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • A teenage team from Whyalla, South Australia, won the H2 Grand Prix Finals in Switzerland, overcoming a disqualification from a previous competition.
  • The team, competing as a wildcard entrant with a hydrogen-fueled remote-controlled car, secured a victory that felt like redemption after losing the 2025 world qualifiers on a technicality.
  • The win has made the five young drivers hometown heroes, celebrating their achievement thousands of kilometers away in their regional city.

A team of five teenagers from Whyalla, South Australia, has achieved a remarkable victory at the H2 Grand Prix Finals in Switzerland, securing the world championship title after a previous heartbreak. The wildcard entrant team, driving a hydrogen-fueled remote-controlled car, tasted sweet redemption after being disqualified on a technicality at the 2025 world qualifiers when they were on the verge of winning.

I just spent three hours and 30 minutes driving without blinking.

โ€” Simon CoppinsThe lead driver described the intense focus required during the final hours of the race.

Seventeen-year-old lead driver Simon Coppins described the final moments of the race as intense, stating, "I just spent three hours and 30 minutes driving without blinking." He added, "We were so close to our end goal." The team's journey to the finals as a wildcard was a significant achievement, especially given their hometown's small size, which led to mispronunciations by Swiss commentators.

The victory has transformed the young drivers into hometown heroes. Cheers erupted in the Swiss stadium and at a watch party back in Whyalla, the "Steel City" of South Australia. "The redemption was โ€ฆ it felt very sweet," Simon said. "I was lost for words on the day, as I am now."

We were so close to our end goal.

โ€” Simon CoppinsCoppins reflected on the team's near-victory at the 2025 qualifiers.

The H2 Grand Prix involves competitors building hydrogen-powered RC cars and racing to complete the most laps within four hours. The Whyalla team, consisting of Eli Coppins, Caelan Kaminski, Simon Coppins, Shannon Bayogos, and Karman Randhawa, had spent two years preparing. Their previous disqualification in the 2025 qualifiers, just 30 minutes before the end, was due to a battery swap during a mandatory check, a mistake attributed to a simple misunderstanding.

The redemption was โ€ฆ it felt very sweet.

โ€” Simon CoppinsCoppins expressed his feelings after the team secured the world championship title.

This year's win marks a significant comeback for the team. The event's scheduling change, moving qualifiers for the Asia Pacific region to the year before the main competition, allowed them another chance to compete on the world stage. Simon Coppins aspires to become an engineer, a fitting ambition for a young innovator who has now achieved global recognition.

I was lost for words on the day, as I am now.

โ€” Simon CoppinsCoppins described his emotional reaction to winning the H2 Grand Prix Finals.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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