The Greater Lafayette Career Academy (GLCA) Motorsports team made a major statement on the track—and in the classroom—at the High School evGrand Prix World Championship, hosted May 6 at Purdue University.

The team earned first, second, fourth, and eighth place finishes overall in a field of competitors from across the globe. Those rankings were determined by three key categories: an outreach video, a STEM report and on-track race performance. GLCA students took second place for their outreach video and first place for their STEM report, setting the stage for a dominant showing in the main event.

“This team had some incredible drivers, crew chiefs, team members, and innovations this year,” GLCA Assistant Advisor Hayley Grisez says. “They truly shined in every aspect of the competition.”

The main race was 20 laps around Purdue’s Grand Prix track. Before the final, teams had to qualify and participate in sprint races to determine starting positions. GLCA’s team worked diligently throughout the day to keep their karts in top condition—effort that clearly paid off.

“Our team came in first and third because of the time and energy we put into our karts,” Harrison High School senior Carter Bradley says. “We had to stay on top of everything all day to keep things running smoothly, and that preparation made the difference.”

McCutcheon High School senior Hayden Foley, who drove the winning kart, says the victory was deeply personal.

“Motorsports is a team sport, and without the help and hard work of everyone, I don’t believe I would have won,” Hayden says. “My kart was perfectly fine-tuned to fit my driving style. Winning meant a lot because I felt like I did my part for the team.”

McCutcheon senior Jacob Denney, who helped relay information to drivers during the race, says the competition goes well beyond what happens on the track.

“All year, we’re working on how to make the karts stronger, faster, and more efficient,” Jacob says. “There’s also a community outreach component, which helps us learn how our actions can positively impact others. As a team, we’re always focused on how to improve—and more importantly, fix—the karts together.”

In addition to the evGrand Prix, the GLCA Racing Team also competed in the Shell Eco-marathon at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway earlier this year. The multi-day event challenged students to engineer fuel-efficient vehicles and connect with other teams from around the country.

“We learned a lot about working efficiently and safely,” Jacob adds. “That paid off for us—we won $3,000 for being the safest group out there.”

Carter, Hayden, and Jacob each have dreams of continuing in the racing world after high school, whether it's driving professionally or building high-performance vehicles.

“I was a driver for our motorsports team, and it gave me a chance to test my skills and become better,” Carter says. “Now I can say I’ve driven for a race team—that’s huge for my future.”