AN apprentice mechanic from Ormiston is one of three selected to build the first Motor Trades Association Queensland race car.
Elliott Lemmon, 19, will work with Gerard Field, 21 from the Gold Coast and William Salmon, 24 from St George in southwest Queensland are combining their talents to build a race car out of a humble Hyundai.
The trio have volunteered their time and skills to make the race car a reality and meet every few weeks to build and perfect the vehicle.
Led by director and driver David Woods, MTA Queensland will line up for the 2017 Hyundai X3 Series Cup, the first time the organisation has tried its hand at the world of motorsport.
The venture is aimed at offering a learning experience for apprentices.
The volunteering role allows for apprentices to learn about the grassroots level of motorsport and what is involved in building a race car.
To reach racing standards, the Hyundai Excel requires a complete rebuild from the ground up.
MTA Institute operations manager Marcello Riotto said the dedication and enthusiasm the three volunteers had shown was vital to the project’s success.
“They have shown a huge amount of reliability and their skills and their passion in the development of the car has been second to none,’’ Mr Riotto said.
Elliott, Gerard and William have also volunteered to help on race days, allowing them to get a real feel for motorsport atmosphere.
Mr Riotto said 20 to 25 competitors were expected and the series was steadily growing in popularity.
“The boys have done an exceptional job and deserve to be recognised for their contribution and time volunteered,” Mr Riotto said.
“With their love of motorsport evident, volunteering for the support crew has been the perfect stepping stone for them into the racing world.”