University of Malta students are building an open wheel racing car which they hope to race at over 100mph on the Silverstone circuit next year.

The car, slightly bigger than a kart, if being built around a Honda CBR 600 cc superbike engine and will use carbon fibre around its chassis to save weight.

It will participate in a race against other cars designed by University students from around the world.

The University of Malta project is being handled by a group of students from different courses backed by the University itself and the Ministry of Education.

The international competition will not be restricted to racing, and participants will also be assessed on engineering design and rule compliance, product marketability and the car's outright performance in an endurance test.

"This reflects the innovative and end-user design philosophy which has to be adopted by entrepreneurs in today's competitive market," the University said.

The team's participation in the competition is the second time for the University of Malta, the first time being in 2007.

Education Minister Evarist Bartolo this morning presented a grant to the students under the Gold Package, which allows grants up up to €10,000.

The team has also partnered with other University collaborators including OK Malta, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, RIDT and the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST).