Engineering companies facing recruitment problems are being urged to help change the outdated image of their industry by sponsoring teams in next year's Formula Schools 2000 race.

About 500 youngsters, aged from 14 to 16, from schools across Oxfordshire are involved in the event where budding engineers design, build and race scale racing cars at Silverstone.

Racing certainty: The team from Lord Williamss School, Thame, which won last year's Formula Schools Silverstone contest

Rob Austin, who is co-ordinating the competition for the Heart of England Training and Enterprise Council, said: "The purpose of this TEC initiative is to encourage those at secondary schools to get involved with every facet of engineering through the exciting world of motorsport.

"They not only have to engineer a winning car, but organise themselves as a team selling sponsorship and producing a financial model of their activities. Many schools produce a high quality overall product including Internet sites and visits to sponsor companies.

"The initiative also presents a challenge to engineering companies because it gives them the opportunity to help change the outdated image of engineering by becoming directly involved in sponsoring and working with the school teams.

"In this way they will be helping to increase the number of young people to choose engineering as a career."

More and more schools are now offering engineering as a study option. Mr Austin said: "Each school is encouraged to arrange about £500 in sponsorship, which can come from one or several companies.

"This is supported with matched funding from the TEC to the tune of £500 for new schools or £250 for schools that have previously taken part."

Twenty-five schools will be lining up on the starting grid at a special track at Silverstone racing circuit next March, three more than in the previous year.

Companies can see how the 25 teams are shaping up by looking at the www.fs2000.org.uk website.