THREE students have proved that they have what it takes to operate in the fast lane.

The trio from Northallerton College scored successes in a national and international "design and make" event for model jet cars, in London.

Daniel Tucker, 14, James Baker, 15, and Peter Smith, 14 came third out of 20 UK teams in the speed category at Olympia.

And in the international section, they went on to beat the US in a head-to-head, winning three races out of three.

They were competing in the Jaguar Formula One Team competition, which challenges schools to design a model drag racer, built to strict specifications and powered by a carbon dioxide cylinder, like the ones in a soda siphon.

"Although we weren't in the top three in the UK overall competition, the boys acquitted themselves really well, especially in the speed categories," said head of design and technology Steve Marshall. "They were over the moon and it was a great learning experience for them.

"The standard was really high and to beat the US team - and win convincingly - was great."

They were awarded a software package for their computer-aided design and manufacture machines at the college.