It’s full speed ahead for Peak Hill Central School’s Natasha Ahern, who will enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime Bathurst 1000 experience thanks to TAFE NSW.
Natasha, who studies a Certificate II in Automotive as part of the TAFE-delivered Vocational Education and Training (TVET) program, will work in TAFE NSW’s Mount Panorama Motorsport Training Centre during Australia’s most iconic Supercar race.
TAFE NSW Automotive Teacher John Ewing said this is a very exciting opportunity for the students to not only get a close look at the Supercar legends in action, it also gives them the chance to get hands-on and work on a variety of racing cars.
“Every year TAFE NSW students have the chance to help at the Motorsport Training Centre, with many drivers and teams in many different classes relying on us to help them with mechanical and panel repairs to get them back on the track and racing again,” Mr Ewing said.
Natasha and eight other TAFE NSW TVET students from across western NSW spent last Thursday in Bathurst preparing for the event.
They undertook a safety induction, familiarised themselves with the equipment and prepared the Motorsport Training Centre for the big race.
“It’s very exciting thinking about working on the cars,” the budding young mechanic said.
“I have always wanted to be a mechanic, so there’s not many better experiences than this.”
Mr Ewing said this was just one example of the access to life-changing learning opportunities TAFE NSW provides Automotive students.
For more information about the huge range of TVET and Automotive courses available at TAFE NSW, visit www.tafewestern.edu.au or phone 1300 823 393.
Entrants in the 1000km, 161 lap, supercar race around Mount Panorama in Bathurst will compete for the Peter Brock Trophy on Sunday, October 8.
The race starts at 11.10am.
