Guyana-Monaco Mousetrap Car Grand Prix
Welcome to the official website for the Guyana-Monaco Mousetrap Car Grand Prix! SBM Offshore Guyana, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, and the Monaco Mousetrap Car Grand Prix, invites students from Secondary/High schools to participate.
What is the Mousetrap Competition?
The Mousetrap competition began in Monaco as a program to promote Science and Engineering among primary and secondary school students with a fun race among model cars powered by a mousetrap designed and built by students.
The Monaco Mousetrap Car Grand Prix was created a few years ago under the High Patronage of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco.
The competition revolves around using the Laws of Physics to design and race with small cars powered by mousetraps.
The winning team from Guyana will have the opportunity to compete internationally for a chance to represent the country at the international event in Monaco.
When you apply, when you experiment, when you try, you learn and do not forget! – Marco Casiraghi
Objectives of the Race
The objective of the race is to have students design and build a vehicle that is powered solely by the supplied mouse trap and activated by tripping the original mousetrap trip mechanism.
- Acceleration – The vehicle will have to travel to a 10-meter line in the shortest amount of time
- Advanced – The vehicle will travel to a 5-meter line and then reverse to the start line in the shortest amount of time
- Innovation and Creativity – The vehicle will have to be built with an innovative and creative design
General Rules for Participation
The mouse trap cannot be physically altered:
- No other energy source may be added (e.g.CO2 Cartridge, batteries, elastic strings, rubber bands, etc.)
- Hardware may be added to the mousetrap, but the original hardware and mounting block may only be altered to attach it to the vehicle. The mousetrap may not be disassembled and then reassembled.
- The spring from the mouse trap cannot be altered or heat treated.
- The mouse trap’s spring cannot be wound more than its normal travel distance or 180 degrees.
- The vehicles must not receive an external push in any direction.
- The standard mousetrap must be mounted to the chassis and must not be painted or decorated.
- By definition a vehicle is a device with wheels and/or runners. Launching a ball or another object from the mouse trap or the mousetrap itself will be ruled illegal. The entire vehicle must leave the start line and travel as one unit.
What materials do you need?
All the materials needed by the participating schools are a smooth 10 metre surface and a manual or electronic stopwatch.
A mousetrap will be supplied to all participating schools.
Prizes and Awards
Local competition:
- The first-place winners of each category will receive GYD$350,000 worth of equipment to enhance their science labs.
- A chance to participate in the Monaco Mousetrap Car Grand Prix, for which awards will be given by the Monegasque authority.
If selected for the international leg of the competition:
- Tickets to watch the Historic Grand Prix from a prime location (either on the circuit or in the prestigious Tunnel Riva.
- Expense-paid trip to Monaco for one week if selected for international competition.
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR SCHOOLS
- Schools should assist the students by teaching them the necessary laws of physics to build their vehicles.
- We strongly encourage schools to teach students the basic physics needed to build their vehicles.
- Please make sure all participating students read and adhere to the code of conduct at all times.
- At the final race it is highly recommended to bring spare parts or backup models of your prototypes in case something is needed.
- Each team must consist of two students from the same school.
- Cars must be powered solely by a standard mousetrap provided by the organisers.
- Cars in the Acceleration Category must be designed to move forward only, while cars in the Advanced Category must be designed to move forward and backwards.
- Teams will be provided with designated stations to make adjustments or repairs to their cars.
- Teams must not touch or remove their cars from the race track until instructed to do so. If the car is removed before permission is granted, that car will not be given any points.
- Each school will have one chance to demonstrate their car’s performance in the competition.
- Students must arrive one hour before the competition starts to complete check-in and preparations.
- Students who win and are selected to represent Guyana at the international competition in Monaco must have a valid passport. It is the responsibility of the school and student to ensure this requirement is met.
Media
Past WINNERS
2023
In 2023, SBM Offshore Guyana, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, hosted its inaugural Guyana-Monaco Mousetrap Car Grand Prix. The competition, which uses the laws of Physics to design and race with small cars powered by a mousetrap, saw several secondary schools participating in these exciting races!
2024
SBM Offshore Guyana continued its partnership with the Ministry of Education in 2024, holding the second annual Guyana-Monaco Mousetrap Car Grand Prix competition. The event saw success as a number of secondary schools participated.
2025
12 secondary schools competed in the third annual Guyana-Monaco Mousetrap Car Grand Prix competition. Hosted by SBM Offshore Guyana in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, it also saw the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport coming onboard. Over 600 students attended the competition, marking the largest ever turnout and participation.