Kangan Institute’s automotive students drive training success at Grand Prix

Students from Kangan Institute’s Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE) have continued on a winning streak at this week’s Formula 1 Grand Prix.

With the excitement of the F1 in town, there’s been a lot of discussion about how to become a Formula 1 driver, like our home grown Daniel Ricciardo.

Young motorsport enthusiasts are always asking “how do I get into Formula 1?”

Kangan Institute’s Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE) has developed motorsport intern programs with a number of Supercar teams including; Nissan Motorsport, Team 18, HSV, Erebus Motorsport and also Zagame Motorsport in the Australian GT Championship.

A thirst for motorsport and enrolling at the ACE state of the art facility helps students develop quality skills and provides them with an opportunity to gain a part time or full time internship in a motorsport environment. ACE and its alliances offer students a platform to complete their training, with real teachers and with real teams.

Speaking enthusiastically from the Grand Prix, Team 18 intern, Reece Turley is thrilled to be included in the ACE motorsport program and to have the opportunity to prepare vehicles and be part of the pit crew on race day.

Brought about through the relationships Kangan Institute has with industry partners, Prahran-based Reece is currently studying a Certificate II in Motorsport Technology.

Undertaking the internship, Reece believes his qualification and the support he receives from ACE and the partnership program will provide him with vital career outcomes and job success in supercars with a pathway to Formula 1.

He said “I consider myself really lucky to be involved in motorsport. I’m also grateful to ACE for giving me the opportunity they are giving me. My course has helped me so much and I’m already being exposed to something I love doing.”

ACE Director, Joe Ballato, says “our Centre at Docklands is world class and ACE is now a key player in the rapidly developing field of automotive technology.”

Fitted with the latest technology, equipment and products, Mr Ballato says the ACE facilities are right up to date. “We’re proud of offering what is arguably the most advanced automotive training facility in the southern hemisphere and we want to keep growing and working with industry to provide outstanding training.”

Partnering with motorsport and key industry stakeholders provides ACE with access to new technologies as they are being developed.

General Manager of Nissan Motorsport, Mr Nick Ryan, has applauded ACE and the quality of its skills based training. “The program works as the skills that ACE provides, combined with the training that interns and apprentices receive, make the program hugely successful,” he said.

In the past it would usually take a qualified technician 8 to 10 years to have access to a Supercar team but with the ACE and Nissan Motorsport partnership, students have the potential to join the program within 12 months.

According to Mr Ryan, “This can only be a good thing. The program can lead to full employment with our team or any other motorsport organisation in a much shorter period of time.”

For information about automotive opportunities visit Kangan Institute’s Automotive department.