Participants faced 10 mechanical, eight electrical and four bodywork challenges, all of which were refreshed in comparision to 2018. And just like last year, the event ran tests in three categories: apprentices, qualified technicians and ‘masters’ – open only to previous winners.
The event’s focus on encouraging engineering skills through competitive exercises remains unchanged, even though this year it welcomed three new sponsors: workshop equipment supplier Premier Pits, emission control service provider Ceramex and parts supplier Imperial Engineering.
“We are constantly striving to reinvent the challenge to keep the tests abreast of new technology,” says SOE marketing manager Mike Hurst.
Winners will be named in a July lunch ceremony on 18 July at The Slate, a conference venue at the University of Warwick.
Other sponsors included Alexander Dennis, Allison Transmission, BAE Systems, Bridgestone, Knorr-Bremse, Shell and Teng Tools. In addition, supporters MAN Truck and Bus and DVSA provided tests and vehicles for the event.