Sophia Gibbons and Georgia Small (both 13) went to indoor entertainment facility Game Over QT yesterday to see the go karts unveiled.
The third winner of the competition, Kai Takeda (7), was unable to be there.
Game Over QT business development manager Darren Kelly said the competition, launched during the July school holidays, attracted more than 70 entries from children aged 4 to 18.
Sophia and Georgia raced the go karts with their year 9 classmates from Wakatipu High School.
A humble Sophia said she thought the judges, which included Queenstown Lakes Mayor Jim Boult and Otago
Daily Times Queenstown bureau chief Tracey Roxburgh, had "made a mistake".
"I thought mine was good, but not the best of all the entries."
Georgia, who came up with her flames design after "just sort of doodling", said seeing it on an actual go kart was "crazy".
Both girls admitted their driving skills were not as good as their design ability, with Georgia finishing last in her race and Sophia second-to-last in hers.
Mr Kelly said the business would hold another go kart design competition next school holidays.
