Wintec Automotive Centre to be Ready for V8s

December 19 2006

Wintec Automotive Centre for Excellence to be Ready for V8 ‘s

Wintec School of Trades is gearing up to offer the country’s first multi disciplinary automotive training to meet a local and international shortage of highly trained technicians in the motor sport industry.

Head of Wintec’s School of Trades, Darren Toy, said today that the institute had been working with industry partners over the last year with resulting partnerships to ensure effective pathways into the industry which would staircase students into an approved and recognised apprenticeship.

Mr. Toy said the organisation had already developed and successfully trialed components of the programme to wide acclaim from industry and the further development of a motor sport centre for excellence was proceeding well.

The pre-trade programme would introduce students to the motor sport environment across several disciplines including electrical, welding, chassis fabrication, engines and specialist motor sport modules and would provide hands on industry experience.

"To support and enhance the quality of training, the centre will also develop, in conjunction with MotorSport New Zealand, commercial opportunities that will cultivate the motor sport profile in New Zealand and offshore," he said.

"In parallel to this, the centre will also develop, with MotorSport New Zealand, a crash repair team to support the New Zealand V8 series and other tier one competitions."

Two Mini vehicles constructed by the Wintec school were raced at the national super mini challenge series in what was a tertiary motor production first in New Zealand. Wintec also provided its first multi-disciplinary crash repair team for the world’s best rally drivers during the recent Propecia Rally New Zealand leg at Fieldays.

Wintec CEO Mark Flowers this was another example of the institute working closely with industry to provide high quality, industry endorsed training. He said support for the pre-trade qualification including the most recently acknowledgment by the Perry Foundation which has granted two $2,500 scholarships to the year one Wintec Certificate in Motor Industry (Introductory Motorsport) programme. He said these will be effective from next year.

“MotorSport New Zealand has endorsed our pre-trade programme and we have an agreement with MotorSport NZ to further develop motorsport technician training in New Zealand.

Trustee Manager of The MotorSport NZ Scholarship Trust, Ian Snellgrove, said the key to providing a rapidly growing national and international motorsport industry was to be able to ensure the quality and calibre of those entering apprenticeships with commercial workshops and race and rally teams. He said in the race environment more 2000 technicians are required with a similar number involved in rallies and an additional number for commercial workshops. He said the sport was growing at a high rate with New Zealand being at the forefront in recent years.

ENDS

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