Isuzu New Zealand recently won the World Isuzu Technicians Competition (I1-GP) in Japan, beating the best Isuzu technicians from around the globe, including defending champions Australia, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, the UK and Japan.
New Zealand champions Mark Broadbent and Ashley Bennellick, along with coach Trevor Moreland first represented New Zealand in 2011 and narrowly missed out on a podium finish but have now secured first place in the 2012 competition by the narrowest of margins over host nation Japan.
Mark is from Auckland Truck Specialists, Ashley is from TDM (Transport Diesel & Marine) in Auckland and coach/manager Trevor Moreland is from Isuzu New Zealand.
Many of the 25 international teams competing at the Isuzu Training Centre in Tokyo, have been training for more than six months for the event, testament to the high calibre of technicians in New Zealand.
The event consisted of a timed written exam and two timed practical events based on simulated “real life” service related processes including fault finding (electrical and mechanical) and an engine repair. The strongest area for the Kiwi contingent was the engine repair as they powered ahead of Japan to take the title.
Isuzu aftersales manager Trevor Moreland said prior to this year’s I1GP that he was confident of achieving an even higher placing in Japan than 2011.
“Ashley and Mark had worked incredibly hard this year to secure another national title and combined with their 2011 experience at the worlds I was confident they would do even better,” says Moreland.
“I’m incredibly proud of my team for their hard work and dedication in their pursuit of becoming the best Isuzu technicians on the planet, and now they can truly say they are the best of the best.
“The 2012 world title now belongs to New Zealand, the first win for our country in the competition's seven year history, it really is a proud moment.”
Isuzu New Zealand has been chasing the top spot after placing second in 2007, in only the second time this country had competed in the I1-GP.
The winners of the I1-GP are ineligible to compete at the 2013 event so Trevor Moreland is now on the hunt for two technicians to defend the title in Japan later this year.