More than a decade into working for New Holland’s Carlisle Tractors, one superstar service technician has topped his career with an experience as part of Red Bull Ampol Racing’s pit crew at the Townsville 500 over the weekend.
Zack White, Head Technician at Carlisle Tractors in Proserpine, Queensland, was selected as part of New Holland’s partnership with Red Bull Ampol Racing for the 2022 Supercars Championship season, where New Holland Apprentices, Technicians, and Parts & Service Managers can win the opportunity to be a part of one of seven Supercars pit crew experiences.
As part of this experience, Zack had behind the scenes access on race day, joined the team on the tools in their garages, and met the drivers, all while kitted out in team uniform. On the tools during the opener of the Townsville 500, he was side by side with the team as Red Bull Ampol Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen came away with a clean-sweep of race wins.
“The environment at the Townsville 500 was so different to the one I am used to,” Zack said.
“We weren’t out in a paddock – like I am 90 per cent of the time – servicing a tractor. In the fast-paced environment, everything we required was neatly laid out on the concrete floor, which made the whole operation really efficient,” he said.
“It was impressive to see the different roles each team member played to ensure the car was back out on the track as quickly as possible after each pit stop, similar to the Carlisle Tractors team getting our customers up and running with limited downtime.”
Joining Carlisle Tractors in 2011 as an apprentice, Zack consistently showed an interest in learning and has applied himself to improving his skills.
“I was given opportunities to continue to improve my trade and was given the chance to train at more tractor schools and GPS schools after completing my apprenticeship. Now I am Head Technician at the Carlisle Proserpine Workshop,” he said.
“I’ve always had a passion for rebuilding transmissions and diagnosing faults, and seeing the high-stakes and pressure that Red Bull Ampol Racing faces when conducting similar tests, has been a learning that I will bring back to the workshop. That, and the importance of keeping a clear workspace to improve efficiency.
“I am thankful for the support that Carlisle Tractors has given me, and the opportunity that New Holland has provided to learn in a new, high-powered environment. This has been an incredible experience in a field that I wouldn’t have otherwise seen.”
New Holland Australia and New Zealand General Manager Bruce Healy said he is pleased to see the talent continuing to emerge from the New Holland workshops.
“Not only being able to identify and nurture talent but be able to recognise it in such a memorable experience is something New Holland is particularly proud of,” he said.
“Zack’s attendance at the Townsville 500 was well-deserved, and a testament to the work ethic and talent that we have across our branches. Despite only joining the pit crew for the Townsville 500, Zack’s existing skillset meant he was able to step in and support the team in a role beyond observing their work.
“I hope that as Head Technician, he can apply his refined high-performance knowledge in a high-pressure situation to his own work on agricultural machinery, and mentor and further educate his colleagues at Carlisle Tractors.”
