• SL’s first STEAM-oriented motorsports challenge 

Motorsports is often thought of as the roar of engines and the thrill of speed. But behind every race car is a story of engineering, design, teamwork, and creativity. 

That broader world of motorsports is what broadcaster and podcaster Jorgina Wijewardana is bringing to Sri Lanka through the GridX STEM Motorsport Challenge by JW Networks – Sri Lanka’s first large-scale Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) motorsports challenge.

Organised by JW Networks and endorsed by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, GridX is an education-driven competition that combines innovation with adrenaline. 

It is not simply about building fast cars; it is about showcasing how science and creativity work together, inspiring the next generation of Sri Lankans to see motorsports as more than racing, and positioning the country as a regional hub for STEM and STEAM-based learning.

What is GridX?

GridX is the first event of its kind in Sri Lanka. Thirty teams drawn from private and State universities, independent institutes, and schools have taken on the challenge of designing and building their own miniature Formula One-style cars. 

These cars are then modified into drag racing versions and tested on a custom-built track, which will be set up at the Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo on 4 October. 

While speed plays its part, the competition is not defined by it alone. GridX has been designed as a five-category challenge to bring out multiple skill sets:

• Fastest Car – testing technical performance. 
• Sustainability – cars built with sustainable or upcycled materials. Teams must also present their sustainability story creatively without electronics, encouraging out-of-the-box thinking. 
• Innovation – endorsed by the National Innovation Agency (NIA), which will not only present awards and certificates but also offer the winning teams the chance to pitch at NIA itself.
• Best Sales Pitch – a 120-second pitch on how and why the car was built. 
• Creativity and Teamwork – highlighting originality and collaboration, with support from Sri Lankan singer Yohani’s brand, Licenced.

Additional partners include Würth, which is offering prize packs, and Red Bull, which is supporting the event. To highlight the ‘A’ in STEAM, an artist has been invited to create a live painting during the event, interpreting motorsports through an artistic lens.

Why STEAM education matters

The move from STEM to STEAM reflects the importance of integrating the arts with science and technology. For Jorgina, this is a necessity. 

“This is not only about producing racers,” she explained. “It is about nurturing other kinds of talent that can represent Sri Lanka on a global platform. Motorsport is engineering, innovation, creativity, marketing, storytelling – it brings together so many industries.”

Her perspective comes from years in the field. Through her global motorsports podcast ‘Jorgy’s Stripping the Dipping,’ Jorgina has interviewed industry figures ranging from engineers and drivers to marketers and lawyers. 

The lesson she has drawn is clear: motorsports is a vast ecosystem with opportunities far beyond the racetrack. GridX is her way of showing Sri Lanka’s young people those possibilities.

Making motorsports accessible

One of the most striking aspects of GridX is its openness. The competition is not limited to engineering students. 

With University College Lanka (UCL) as Knowledge Partner, workshops were held to guide teams through building their cars, even giving them access to 3D printers. As a result, participants include students from non-engineering backgrounds and schools who might never have imagined themselves working on a motorsports project.

“I was originally expecting maybe 10 teams,” Jorgina admitted. “But we ended up with 30. Some of them came from as far away as Gampaha, Embilipitiya, and beyond. Many of them told me they never thought they’d have the chance to showcase their skills. 

“Watching them work with such excitement and creativity – even finding loopholes in the technical guidelines and using them to their advantage – has been full of adrenaline for me. It proves that our youth have talent. They only lack opportunities.”

To reinforce inclusivity, GridX also set a rule that each team must include at least one female member. While Jorgina initially worried this would be a challenge, she was surprised by the number of girls who signed up. “The response was overwhelming,” she said. “It shows that young women are ready to step into this industry if we create space for them.”

Larger recognition and opportunities for motorsport

What makes GridX more than a one-off event is the network of recognition and opportunity it creates. Winners will not only take home prizes but also gain access to platforms that can further their ideas. 

For example, the NIA will allow Innovation category winners to pitch at its forums, Technologically Re-Awakening a Culture of Excellence (TRACE) Sri Lanka will issue formal recognition for sustainability achievements, and CEAT will back the sales pitch award, linking students to industry standards.

By connecting students with established institutions and companies, GridX bridges education and industry in a way that few competitions manage.

A global stage

Sri Lanka is not new to motorsports, but it has rarely treated it as an education and innovation driver. 

For Jorgina, GridX is a step towards changing that narrative. “If we cannot always go to the world, then we should bring the world to us,” she said. “That is what I am trying to do – build partnerships so that our people can represent themselves globally.”

This aligns with her broader mission of breaking barriers as a woman in a male-dominated industry, and of ensuring that Sri Lanka is not left out of the conversation as motorsports continues to evolve worldwide. 

With Sri Lanka Tourism on board, the event also has a promotional dimension: motorsports has the potential to boost tourism, generate economic activity, and build national pride.

At its core, GridX is about more than cars. It is about showing students that creativity, teamwork, innovation, and communication matter as much as speed. It is about proving that Sri Lanka has the brains and imagination to compete globally if given the chance.

By blending STEM and the arts, GridX is also a reminder that the future is not built by engineers alone but by storytellers, marketers, designers, and creators working alongside them. For participants, it is a chance to learn, to be recognised, and to imagine careers they may never have considered before.

For audiences, it is a spectacle – miniature drag races inside a ballroom, live art, and the buzz of young people showcasing their work. The only requirement for spectators is registration in advance in order to help organisers manage attendance.

Looking ahead

For Jorgina, GridX is just the beginning. She hopes the challenge will become an annual event, inspiring more schools and universities to get involved and expanding partnerships with industry. 

“We have remarkable talent and so many smart people,” she said. “If we give them opportunities, they will take us far. GridX is my attempt to make motorsports more accessible and to show the world what Sri Lankans can do.”

For more information or to register as an attendee for GridX, visit JW Networks on Instagram