Isuzu UK celebrates servicing excellence in Technical Skills Competition final

March 16, 2025 by Isuzu

• Isuzu UK Technical Skills Competition was hosted at The Pick-Up Professionals' headquarters in Solihull.

• The competition involved five of the Isuzu UK dealer network's finest service technicians competing in four technical challenges.

• Stefan Harland of Hunt Forest Group Chilbolton emerged as the winner, booking his place, alongside second-placed Liam Ross, to compete at the Global Isuzu Technical Skills Competition in Bangkok, Thailand.

In February 2025, Isuzu UK hosted the finals of the Isuzu UK Technical Skills Competition at its headquarters in Solihull. Five of the most capable service technicians across the Isuzu dealer network competed for the opportunity to participate in the 2025 I-1 Grand Prix (Global Isuzu Technical Skills Competition) in Bangkok, Thailand.

The UK leg of the competition involved the competing service technicians completing four challenges within the 3-hour time limit:

• 60 min: Refitting drive gears and timing chain to the Isuzu D-Max's engine, ensuring to time up the engine correctly,

• 30 min: Measuring piston protrusion to calculate the correct cylinder head gasket,

• 30 min: Conducting a vehicle health report on The New Isuzu D-Max, noting and rectifying four set faults on the vehicle,

• 60 min: A 25-question written exam paper.

With the five contestants being chosen from the pool of over 90 Isuzu dealerships across the UK, the Technical Skills Competition was poised to be tightly-contested. Emerging as victor, displaying exceptional technical expertise, was Stefan Harland, Isuzu Service Technician at Hunt Forest Group Chilbolton. Finishing as runner-up, Liam Ross, from Morrison Motors in Aberdeenshire, will join Harland in representing Isuzu UK in the Global Isuzu Technical Competition in Bangkok.

Third place was awarded to Oliver Landpower's, Stephen Watson, with Trek-Truck's, Scott Baxter, and Compass Isuzu's, Olly Curtis, finishing fourth and fifth respectively.

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Isuzu UK Technical Skills Competition Results:

• Stefan Harland* (Hunt Forest, Chilbolton),

• Liam Ross* (Morrison Motors, Turriff),

• Stephen Watson (Oliver Landpower, Kings Langley),

• Scott Baxter (Trek-Trucks, Sheffield),

• Olly Curtis (Compass Tractors, Bridgwater).

*Qualified for Global Isuzu Technical Skills Competition

Darren James, UK Group Resources Director at International Motors, commented: 'Each of the five contestants can absolutely be proud of what they did in the UK final, showcasing the class-leading level of knowledge and expertise at the core of Isuzu UK's DNA. They made it very difficult to determine a winner and runner-up to progress to the world final, however, I would like to congratulate Stefan Harland on his impressive victory and the superb effort from runner-up Liam Ross, who will be joining him in Bangkok.'

Celebrating his victory in the Isuzu UK Technical competition, Stefan Harland said: 'It is a privilege to be named as the winner of the Isuzu World Technical Skills - UK Competition. I am very excited to be put forward to compete in the global competition in Thailand later this year, and I hope to do both Hunt Forest Group and Isuzu UK proud!'

Harland started his career in 2012, as an apprentice following a 3-year course in Andover College. Following the completion of his apprenticeship in 2014-2015, Harland worked across multiple brands in Basingstoke, expanding his knowledge by working with a variety of different vehicles. In September 2023, Harland moved to Hunt Forest Group, noting the rewarding nature of carrying out work on pick-ups used by farming communities.

The exceptional technical skill on show reinforces Isuzu's reputation as The Pick-Up Professionals, with the Isuzu dealer network's quality of service and 5-year/125,000-mile warranty resulting in Isuzu being awarded 'Best Back-Up 2025' by Overlander 4x4 Magazine.