Automotive apprentices wanted to crew rally events

MITO is seeking expressions of interest from current MITO automotive apprentices who want to join the crew of MITO ambassadors Hayden Paddon and Emma Gilmour across four rally events:

• NZRC Otago: 1–2 April (applications close Friday, 5pm, 3 March)

• NZRC Hawke’s Bay: 22 July (applications close Friday, 5pm, 23 June)

• NZRC Coromandel: 2 September (applications close Friday, 5pm, 4 August)

• NZRC Bay of Plenty: 14 October (applications close Friday, 5pm, 15 September)

Two apprentices will attend each rally, with one being assigned to each driver for the duration of the event. They will spend their time with the whole team to support Hayden and Emma with their technical requirements and will get to experience professional motorsport behind the scenes.

This is the second year MITO is running this offering after four apprentices joined Hayden Paddon at Ashley Forest Rallysprint and WRC Rally NZ in 2022. The apprentices proved to be valuable members of the crew, and all walked away as members of a gold trophy-winning team.

“It was a real privilege to have the MITO apprentices on the team with us and we were all impressed by how involved and enthusiastic they were to help out. They really gelled as part of the team in a short space of time, while we were able to give them first-hand experience of rallying,” says Hayden Paddon.

Now with the addition of Emma Gilmour joining this initiative, hopes are that more women will get involved and show their appreciation for the sport and the industry.

“It’s great to be involved with this initiative from MITO and give someone a first-hand experience of what it’s like to work in a top rally team,” says Emma Gilmour.

The two Kiwi rally legends want to see more technicians consider motorsport as a career, with the experiences of the eight apprentices shared on social media to inspire others. Follow the action on MITO’s Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as via Paddon Racing Group.

For more information and to apply, visit mito.nz/rally-crew.