Atalented young Mount Gambier apprentice will be getting hands on with American style race cars as part of the pit crew team for Garry Rogers Motorsport at this weekend’s VAILO Adelaide 500.
Mount Gambier’s Matt Baudinette has travelled to Adelaide to be part of the pit team for the Trans Am Series – a supporting event for the main race – after being selected for the opportunity by Group Training Employment (GTE).
Currently in his second year of a motor mechanic apprenticeship through GTE with Mount Gambier’s Barry Maney Group, Matt said he was excited about being part of a highly regarded motorsport team.
“It’s such an unreal chance – it’s a money cannot buy experience really,” he said.
“Being part of a racing team, I’m looking forward to all of it, even if I’m just on the broom or getting coffees.”
The Trans Am event features American classic vehicles such as Ford Mustangs, Chevrolet Camaros and Dodge Challengers, however Matt admits his family are pretty loyal to one make in particular.
“Anything with a Ford badge on it is a good start,” Matt joked.
“I came home from the hospital in the back of a Galaxy and went to school in a Dodge, we have always been a classic car family, so I think my dad is a bit jealous.”
It will be the second year in a row GTE has sent a young apprentice to the popular racing event, after Mount Gambier’s Josh Munn, who is completing a dual trade at Carlin and Gazzard, was placed with the same team in 2023.
GTE Field Officer Andrew Norman said Matt is a wonderful representative for both the group training organisation and his host employers, which whom Matt had been with since August last year.
“It’s great to see an opportunity like that and give it to someone deserving like Matt, who is going to make the most of it,” he said.
“He loves classic cars, and the dealership has also selected him to be part of the Ford apprenticeship program to receive specialist training, while completing his apprenticeship.”
Mr Norman said the idea behind the pit team gig was two-fold, to promote the trade but also to offer a local GTE apprentice an opportunity beyond Mount Gambier.
“The thought process is to promote the trade and give GTE mechanical apprentices something to strive for that no other local employer can offer them,” he said.
“We’re so grateful to Garry Rodgers Motorsport for giving our promising young apprentices the chance to be part of a professional race team – it’s an incredible opportunity.”
