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An automotive student, due to qualify later this month, has ignited her career in the pit lane of a championship race event, working alongside race mechanics and experiencing the adrenaline of motorsport up close.
Samantha Robinson, who is set to qualify from Durham College with a Level 3 Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair qualification, had the opportunity of a lifetime when she spent a day shadowing race mechanics at the British Touring Car Championship paddock at Brands Hatch in May through Autotech Academy’s national competition with NAPA Racing UK.
The experience fulfilled her dream of working on racing cars and introduced her to Autotech Academy’s internship initiative. She has now secured an intern position through the company’s Toyota Talent programme.
Launched by Autotech Group in 2021 to bridge the gap between education and automotive employment, Autotech Academy secures paid 6-12 month internships for newly qualified vehicle technicians and equips them with a toolbox and uniform to start their careers. At the end of the internship, the automotive employer can choose to employ the intern permanently. Over 90% of interns who successfully complete the internship secure employment.
Last year, Autotech Academy partnered with The Toyota Motor Company to develop the Toyota Talent Powered by Autotech Academy initiative. Based upon the Autotech Academy's original offering, this internship program is tailored to meet Toyota’s specific needs, supporting its strategy to increase the number of vehicle technicians across its UK network of 240 Toyota and Lexus dealerships.
As part of its sponsorship of NAPA Racing UK, and to raise the profile of the internship initiative amongst college students, Autotech Academy launched a national competition to win a behind-the-scenes experience with the NAPA motorsport team across the 2024 race season. Selected to attend the Brands Hatch race day in May, Samantha was given the chance to immerse herself in the British Touring Car Championship paddock where she shadowed professional race mechanics.
The hands-on exposure to high-octane motorsport not only fuelled her passion but working with race mechanics offered her practical insights that classroom-based learning could never provide.
After winning the competition, Samantha applied for a position with Autotech Academy and subsequently secured a six-month internship starting immediately after her qualification. The opportunity to work with Toyota Durham, through the Toyota Talent programme, is a significant step in her burgeoning career, giving her both the experience and confidence she needs as a newly qualified technician.
Samantha’s story is particularly inspiring as she navigates a male-dominated sector. Her love for cars, instilled by her mechanic father, kept her motivated despite initial reservations. “I always wanted to be a vehicle technician,” Samantha shares. “However, leaving school I lacked the confidence to go into a male environment. It’s taken me some time to do so, but I wanted to work with cars because of my autism—it’s very detailed, and everything has a reason.”
Unlike traditional apprenticeships, the Autotech Academy internship offers a competitive wage, recognising the qualifications and skills that interns bring to the table. Additionally, the toolbox provided is a significant bonus, enabling interns to hit the ground running without additional financial strain.
Samantha’s experience with the NAPA Race team has fuelled her passion for motorsports, particularly Formula 1, and she now complements her studies by working as a race mechanic for two stock car teams during weekends, while looking forward to kickstarting her professional journey with Toyota Durham.
How to get involved
Autotech Academy’s competition is open to any student currently studying for, or who has qualified in the last three years with, a Level 3 automotive qualification. To win this unique experience, students can submit their entries via the Autotech Academy website here.
With over 20 spots available, two students at each race event will have the chance to join NAPA’s race mechanics on practice days. The competition will close in September as the season ends.