IT was a bid to try and find the engineers of the future.

And for pupils from four schools, it was certainly a lesson with a difference.

They attended the annual Interesting Vehicles Day at a Huddersfield engineering firm.

Turnbridge-based Cummins Turbo Technologies opened its doors to youngsters from King James’ School, Castle Hill School, Moor End Technology College and Lowerhouses Infant and Junior school in a bid to inspire engineers of the future.

The students mixed with Cummins engineers and car enthusiasts at the firm’s St Andrew’s Road site.

They saw exhibits including a MAN racing truck, Michael Schumacher’s Benetton F1 car and a range of vehicles designed and raced by Cummins employees in their spare time.

Organiser Henry Carr, senior component engineer, said: “This is the biggest and best Interesting Vehicles Day to date with more vehicles and guests on site.

“We are also celebrating Holset turbochargers’ heritage in motorsport from Ayrton Senna’s F1 days in a Holset-turbocharged car to current successes in truck racing and the Dakar rally.

“Involving students from some of our local partner schools also helps get the message out that engineering is an exciting career with Cummins.

Also attending was James Marsland, a former Salendine Nook High School pupil, who started with Cummins Turbo Technologies as an apprentice this week.

He first came into contact with the firm as part of an F1 in Schools project.

Said James: “Meeting different people in different functions like aerodynamics, marketing, and components engineering gave me more insight into the company.

“Everyone was willing to help out with the design and build of the racing car even in the tight schedules.

“After getting to know more about Cummins with the F1 in Schools team, I was really pleased that I applied for an apprenticeship here.”

He added: “I’m really interested in motorsport and hopefully one day I’ll be bring my own interesting vehicle down here, too.”

The Interesting Vehicles Day also raised money for the Whiteknights Emergency Voluntary Service by auctioning a print of an original signed photo of Ayrton Senna in his Holset turbocharged F1 car.

The Whiteknights are a group of volunteer motorcyclists on call out-of-hours to help the NHS in moving blood, test cells and organs from one hospital to another in emergency situations.