Harbour hot-lap celebrates successful Team Navy season

The Team Navy alliance will be in full effect on Thursday, when the Navy branded Friers Offshore Racing Supercat is taken for a hot-lap of Sydney Harbour by Team Navy Ford Performance Racing V8 Supercar Driver Chaz Mostert.

In a departure from normal preparations ahead of this weekend’s Sydney Telstra 500, Chaz Mostert will push Navy’s Friers Offshore Racing Supercat to its limit.

The hot-lap marks the end of a very successful inaugural season for Team Navy’s sporting partnerships with the Ford Performance Racing team and Frier’s Offshore Racing.

The Team Navy Ford Performance Racing team is currently sitting in third place in the Dunlop Series Championship with the chance to win the series in this year's Telstra 500 season finale at Homebush, while theTeam Navy Frier's Offshore Racing Team won two Australian titles this year in the Supercat and Offshore racing divisions.

Head of Navy Engineering, Rear Admiral Michael Uzzell says the Royal Australian Navy is proud to be allied with such inspirational teams which demand technical excellence in support of their endeavours.

“There are natural synergies between Navy and the world of motorsports, whether it be supercars or superboats. All three organisations rely on top-notch mechanics, engineers, and operators working as a team to deliver outcomes for a first-class performance,” said Rear Admiral Uzzell.

“Navy currently has two Technicians on an annual outplacement program with Ford Performance Racing, which is exposing them to new skills and practices that they will bring back to Navy workplaces and share with their colleagues. It is expected that these new skills and practices will contribute to our pursuit of technical mastery in our workforce.”

As an extension of the Team Navy initiative, Navy will launch an Engineering Challenge at Garden Island, Sydney today.

“Technical sailors will team up to undertake complex technical tasks requiring skill-of-hand and keen teamwork. Time-trials will be conducted throughout the year at Naval establishments, culminating in a National championship in which the best teams from each region will compete for the mantle of National Champion,” Rear Admiral Uzzell said.

“One activity will involve the strip-down and rebuild of a diesel engine. Another will involve the repair of simulate damage to and airframe and wiring. This will create an exciting challenge for our technicians that will showcases their skills and team ethos."