By TANIA PHILLIPS
IMAGINE the roar of a V8 engine, the smell of the fumes and the cheer of the crowd, an exhilarating dream most would love to be part of.
For one young Tweed man, Thomas Rann, this dream has become reality.
As part of the pit crew for the Ford Performance Racing, travelling team, Tom has contributed to the overwhelming success of the Ford V8 Supercars at the Bathurst 1000 and more recently in the Gold Coast 600.
“Words can’t describe the feeling of being part of the winning team especially at Bathurst, the Holy Grail of motorcar racing,” he said.
Tom’s role on the track is in driver assistance and tyre maintenance, which are both high pressure positions that involve liaising with engineers to initiate calculated adjustments which enhance the speed of the car.
“Being at the podium, deafened by the chant of the crowd and sprayed by the winner’s champagne are moments my team mates have spent years working towards. For me this experience has been fast tracked and is mind blowing,” he said.
The journey for Tom started a year ago whilst studying Automotive Mechanical Technology at Murwillumbah TAFE while working as an apprentice for Chris Albertini Automotive in Lismore, where Tom applied for the prestigious Telstra Racing Recruit Series.
This nationwide competition offers one talented apprentice the opportunity to join the Ford Performance Racing Team, while completing the fourth and final year of their apprenticeship.
The competition is fierce and the criteria specific, though Tom had spent some time preparing for this position.
He competed in the National Worldskills competition in August 2012 where he achieved the position of fourth in Australia, narrowly missing out on competing in the International Worldskills competition in Liepzig, Germany this year.
Tom’s mechanical aptitude, enthusiasm and ability to work within a team saw him achieve his dream.
“To step into a team with so much credibility in Australia is a dream, all my hard work throughout my apprenticeship and at TAFE had finally paid off,” Tom said.
Tom is back to the Ford factory headquarters in Melbourne this week for important preparations ahead of the final challenges of Phillip Island 360 and then the Sydney 500.
“The championship is coming down to the wire with only 121 points separating first from fourth” says Tom.
Tom is an incredibly passionate, determined and disciplined 22-year-old, who‘s future looks bright.
The new automotive department at Kingscliff TAFE campus is scheduled for completion in March 2014, so it is the perfect time to pursue your career in the automotive industry.
For further details contact the automotive department on 02 6672 0828.
