Honda apprentices hone their skills in BTCC
Young Honda technicians, Alex Knight (19) and John Couldridge (21) are developing their mechanical skills as part of the Honda Racing Team at selected BTCC rounds in 2011.
Alex, who works at Gatwick Honda, is in the final year of his three-year apprenticeship with Honda (UK) and has already helped prepare Honda’s race cars at the first three Touring Car rounds at Brands Hatch, Donington and Thruxton.
“I’ve always wanted to be involved in motorsport, so this is an incredible opportunity,” says Alex. “The season opener at Brands was a real baptism of fire as Gordon Shedden had an accident in free practice and the car needed repairing before the race!
“I’ve loved every single minute of it so far and have an enormous amount of respect for the race team technicians – they work so hard. They have all made me feel incredibly welcome and the amount I’ve learned in such a short space of time is mind-blowing.”
Peter Crolla, Honda Racing Team Manager, has been really impressed with Alex’s input. “Initially, you have to get to know someone to assess strengths and weaknesses and, to be honest, we thought that Alex would end up observing for the most part,” he explains. “But he’s integrated himself into the team in the most unassuming way. In short, his input has been invaluable and he’s made a real and valid contribution to the team. He’s a smart lad and the Honda Apprenticeship programme is giving him first class training - he’s very much one of the team now.”
John Couldridge, who works at Glyn Hopkin Honda Chelmsford and graduated from Honda’s acclaimed apprentice programme in 2009, will be joining the team for the first time at Oulton Park on 4/5 June and is really looking forward to the challenge. “Cars are my passion and BTCC is such an exciting competition,” he explains. “I’ve spoken to Alex about his experiences so far and I can’t wait to join the team and learn new things in a totally different environment.”
Alex and John will also be going head-to-head head against each other for a much-coveted place on Team UK, where one of them could represent their country at WorldSkills London 2011, to be held at ExCeL London from 5 - 8 October, 2011.
After two years, three qualifying competitions, hundreds of hours of training and fending off the efforts of approximately 1,300 other young hopefuls from many other major automotive manufacturers and independent garages, the two talented technicians from Honda have made it through a gruelling selection process to be announced as part of the 60-strong UK Squad. One of them will be selected to compete in the ‘Automobile Technology’ skills category within the UK Team – competing against 50 other nations in what is the largest global skills competition in the world.
