Winners Circle arrives at Red Hook

Thirty boxes of car parts, along with four tires and a Factory Five race car frame, were delivered to Red Hook High School Thursday.

Officially, the Winners Circle Project has arrived.

This year, nearly 40 Red Hook students across three classes will work together to operate as a real racing team, building a car from scratch, managing finances and sponsorships, and conjuring a public presence through artistic design and social media promotion. They'll compete against several neighboring school districts in a variety of benchmarks, including virtual races and a culminating race in which real race car drivers will compete using their vehicle. Along the way, they’ll receive dedicated career mentorship and take part in multiple field trips visiting businesses and attending functions to gain real-world experience.

Student interest in the first-year program has soared, with enrollment slightly above anticipated capacity.

The first introductory class was held Wednesday, but the real fun arrived in the back of a Factory Five truck Thursday, with several members of the program helping to unload the materials they’ll use through the course of the program.