THE motor sport dream isn't just for drivers, it's for mechanics as well.
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For TAFE student Steven Hanson, he's getting to live his dream at Mount Panorama this week by working on some of the best cars in Australian motor sport.
He is one of 10 automotive students who have been given the opportunity to join Supercars pit crews for the Bathurst 1000, giving them invaluable hands-on industry experience.
The students are carrying out support and safety tasks, including wheel and tyre changes, steering and suspension tuning, diagnosis and repairs, and specialist workshop maintenance.
Mr Hanson is being mentored by the crew at Triple Eight Race Engineering, whose stable of drivers includes seven-time Supercars championship winner Jamie Whincup and the champion for 2021, Shane van Gisbergen.
Triple Eight has also won the teams' championship for 2021, making it pretty clear that all involved know their craft very well.
Mr Hanson has been enjoying his time with the team and learnt a lot while working in the pits.
"I've been asking heaps of questions and they've been happy to answer them, so I'm learning stuff all the time," he said.
As someone who has been involved in motor sport his entire life, he's looking to make the transition from competitor and fan to an industry worker.
When given the chance to work at the Bathurst 1000, he could not turn it down.
"I've grown up around motor sport. I used to race as a young kid myself and pit-crewed over the last so many years, and it's just really hard to go that next step because so many people want to do it," Mr Hanson said.
"As soon as the opportunity came up, I couldn't say no to it."
Once he's completed his Certificate III in Motorcycle Mechanical Technology, he hopes to find a job in motor sport, be it with motor bikes or cars.
TAFE automotive teacher John Ewing, who assists students up at Mount Panorama every year, said the placements with teams were a chance for many students to "live the Supercars dream".
"We do have a small number of them that keep going with that dream and move on to become members of the Supercars teams and be offered employment," he said.
"... It's a pathway for them to get into motor sport if they want to do that."
This year, students were able to work with Triple Eight, Tickford Racing, Erebus Motorsport, Team 18, Brad Jones Racing, Kelly Grove Racing, Tekno Autosports and Matt Stone Racing.
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