RENAULT Australia has honoured its top performing apprentices of 2017 with a special award ceremony that has seen Ryan Pardon from Parry Euro Renault in Townsville emerge as top of his class.

Adam Koberstein from Wanneroo Renault in Perth took second place, while Fraser Doran from Eastern Renault in the Victorian suburb of Croydon rounded out the podium, with each receiving an SP tools voucher for their outstanding achievements.

All three also received a formal Certificate III qualification in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology, a Certificate II in Automotive Air Conditioning Technology and are now internationally recognised Advanced Renault technicians.

Mr Pardon placed second in his class in 2016 behind Central Renault (Richmond) second-year apprentice David Nguyen.

Renault Australia national service manager Mark Manns applauded not just the top-three technicians, but also all apprentices who graduated last year.

“This class of 2017 was an extremely capable group of apprentices,” he said. “Renault Australia is proud to see them enter the workforce as competent and professional technicians, as well as being part of the wider Renault family.

“It has been terrific to watch these apprentices grow throughout their time in the Renault Academy. This growth could not have been achieved without the student’s hard work and support of their Renault dealership.”

Renault Australia conducts its third and final year of apprentice training at its training academy in Melbourne in conjunction with the Kangan Institute’s Automotive Centre of Excellence.

According to the French car-maker, “Renault apprentices gain a thorough understanding of how to diagnose, service and repair engines and associated components, as well as light vehicle clutches, manual and automatic transmissions, electronic drive management, air conditioning systems and electrical systems”.

By Tung Nguyen