UK Winners Named in Toyota’s Dream Car Art Contest

Toyota sent out a call for children across the UK to submit their wildest, wackiest and most wonderful ideas for the annual Dream Car Art Competition, and the results have been exceptional.

More than 800 entries were received, presenting ideas for future transport that show how important caring for others and protecting the environment are for youngsters today.

From this impressive response, the judges had to choose first, second and third prize-winners across three age categories.  The talented young artists were presented with their awards at a ceremony hosted at Toyota GB’s Surrey headquarters on 15 February. They now qualify for consideration for the competition’s global final, and the chance of winning a trip to Japan.

In the under-eight age category, Martin Wellstead, from Dorset, took gold with The Friendly Underwater Cleaning Car that keeps the oceans clean, without disturbing sea creatures.

The winner in the eight to 11 category was Tess Hudson, with her Deep Freeze concept. This vehicle moves around the ocean and acts as an ice-pack for the Earth, lowering ocean temperatures.

Among the 12 to 15-year-olds, Saraya Kingsley took first place with her Tree-mendous Travel Car. This machine travels the world searching for homeless people who are then provided with a place to live in a tree.

All the gold award winners received iPads, while silver and bronze winners were given computer tablets; everyone also took home a Toyota goody bag.

Robin Giles, HR and Corporate Operations Director for Toyota GB said: “At Toyota we think it is essential to listen to the thoughts and ideas of young people when we think about future innovations for mobility and for protecting our environment. We were amazed by the creativity and imagination shown by this year’s contest entrants, which made the task of choosing the winners very difficult for our judges. Our thanks go to everyone who took part and our warmest congratulations go to the winners.”

Award winners

Under eight

Gold: The Friendly Underwater Cleaning Car, by Martin Wellstead, age six from Dorset

Silver: Toyota Gym Car, by Dylan Kay, age seven from Dudley.

Bronze: Protect the World Car, by Jacob Potochnic, age seven from London.

 Eight to eleven

Gold: Deep Freeze, by Tess Hudson, age 10 from Cheshire.

Silver: The Helpmobile, by David Potocnik Hahonina, age eight from London

Bronze: The Drone Mobile, by Anna Potocnik Hahonina, age 10 from London.

Twelve to fifteen

Gold: The Tree-mendous Travel Car, by Saraya Kingsley, age 14, from Stockport.

Silver: The Disaster Recovery Car, by Harriet Myers, age 13 from Leeds.

Bronze: The Converter, by Quazi Mahdeen Zaman, age 12, from Aberdeen.