Partnership puts TAFE Queensland students in pole position

V8 Supercars announced today the expansion of itsstrategic partnership with TAFE Queensland, now covering the sport's three marquee Queensland events.

As a part of the agreement, TAFE Queensland becomes the Official Education Partner of the V8 Supercars Championship, alongside the Castrol EDGE Townsville 400, Coates Hire Ipswich SuperSprint and Castrol Gold Coast 600 events.

A unique activation of the partnership at each of these events, focused on TAFE Queensland's commitment to work integrated learning, will see 105 TAFE Queensland students working with V8 Supercars staff across a variety of departments in all three events.

This opportunity will provide TAFE Queensland students with the chance to showcase their skills across motorsport, event management, public relations, hospitality, television production, commercial and digital marketing arenas to a massive local and international audience.

V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton says the expansion of the partnership will give TAFE Queensland exposure across some of the largest sporting events in Queensland.

"It's fantastic to again be aligning with TAFE Queensland, particularly in an expanded capacity across all of our Queensland events," Warburton said.

"Giving these students the opportunity to integrate with the V8 Supercars business will give them real life experience in a fast-paced, high-octane environment. It's a great promotion of the type of skills that TAFE Queensland provide their students - real-world skills, which allow them to 'Make Great Happen'."

TAFE Queensland CEO Jodi Schmidt says being able to partner with the V8 Supercars for a second year will provide an incredible opportunity for TAFE students.

"As the Official Education Partner of the V8 Supercars Championship, we'll be making great happen, on and off the racetrack."

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for 105 of our most gifted and deserving students to showcase their exceptional skills at the Queensland rounds of the V8 Supercars Championship."

"Our students will play a vital role at the three Queensland rounds of the championship and learn from industry leaders, in the garage, the kitchen and the production suite."

Reigning Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 champion, Pepsi Max Crew pilot Chaz Mostert visited the TAFE Queensland Townsville Trades Training Centre last week, meeting with excited students studying for their Certificate II Automotive.

The current King of the Mountain met with automotive students to discuss his own apprenticeship training at TAFE and what inspired him to become a V8 Supercar driver.

"I finished my mechanical apprenticeship in 2013, and it really gave me a great grounding while I launched my motor racing career," Mostert said.

"I understand what my engineers and mechanics are doing with my car, and the skills and knowledge I learned at TAFE gave me the confidence to explain what I want from the car and what we need to do to achieve it.

"TAFE Queensland automotive students are in the pole position for an exciting career in the automotive engineering industry," Mostert said.

The first event in the partnership, the Castrol EDGE Townsville 400 will take place across the weekend of July 10-12, at Reid Park, Townsville.

Winter will heat up for three huge days of action on and off the track for North Queensland's biggest motorsport and entertainment festival.

Ford, Holden, Nissan, Erebus Motorsport V8's Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG and Volvo will gear up for the SuperStreet battle with two 200km races and critical Championship points on the line.

For the kids, the Disney Zone will be on-site with a brand new world of activities including Mack the Transporter and Lightning McQueen.

Kids 12 and under receive free trackside admission with a paying adult.