WHEN Ashley Viney stepped into a diesel mechanic apprenticeship five years ago, he had no idea it would lead to a career in motorsport.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Viney, 21, started at Les Walkden Enterprises in 2010 as a 16-year-old car enthusiast.
Now he is working for Les Walkden Rallying.
"I didn't really imagine working in motorsport to be honest, I came here wanting to work on trucks as an apprentice diesel mechanic and as it happened I ended up working on race cars," he said.
"My job basically includes the building and preparation of race and rally cars.
"We do off-road,we also do circuit racing, Targa Tasmania and all the Targa events.
"Another guy and myself both organise and manage what goes on in here.
"We do travel interstate to places like Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland - all around Australia really.
"We do go to New Zealand competing as well."
The former Scottsdale High student said he enjoys the travelling side of the job, which includes building cars from scratch and maintaining them for a 20-plus race event calendar.
"It takes a good couple of months to build a car from scratch," Mr Viney said.
"We basically start with a standard car, we strip it down to just a bare shell, send it to Peter Muir in Sydney where he will put a roll cage in the car, then it is returned back to us and we'll build it to racing specifications depending on what the car is going to compete in.
"The job is also quite challenging, which is good because it is good to push your limits and learn from your mistakes.
"Obviously making mistakes in not enjoyable but the challenge of it all is enjoyable especially when you succeed.
"I want to continue in motorsport for as long as I can especially while I'm younger but further in my career I do hope to move into a management position.
"I have always just had an interest in dirt bikes and cars from an young age.
"Growing up out at Scottsdale I was always into dirt bike riding and that interest has just flowed through to cars and motor racing."
Mr Viney completed his Certificate III in Mechanical Technology, to complete his apprenticeship last year.
He also represented Tasmania in Automotive Mechanics in the World Skills competitions in 2014.