USQ elite athlete in high gear for Bathurst 1000

Completing a university degree while competing as an elite athlete can be a difficult juggling act but V8 Supercar driver and USQ Engineering student, Damian Assaillit has been able to master the challenge.

USQ student Damian Assaillit racing in the V8 Supercar Championship

Mr Assaillit is completing the fourth year of a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering and has also competed at the L&H 500, round 10 of the Australian V8 Supercar Championship.

USQ is supporting Mr Assaillit as part of its Elite Athletes Program at both the Phillip Island round and the blue ribbon Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 event in October.

'I was pretty happy after Phillip Island – the car was quick, we qualified just outside the top 20 and I was quick in the first stint of the race' Mr Assaillit said.

'We had a small hiccup during a pit stop which hurt our final position a bit but my co-driver, Ant Pedersen and I are looking forward to Bathurst in a few weeks.

'It has been tough to balance study and racing but being in USQ’s Elite Athlete Program is great.

'The university offers a lot of support to call on which I couldn’t get elsewhere which has been invaluable to my studies and racing career.

'Studying Engineering at USQ has also helped with my car racing as I now have a closer relationship with the engineers working on the car and a better understanding of the finer details of the car’s setup'

Two other USQ Engineering students, Jy Lovett and Nathan Assaillit have also joined the team to help as part of the pit crew.

'This experience of working with the mechanics and other team engineers helps us put into practice much of the theory we learn in our degrees,' Mr Lovett said.

'We have been able to show the high level of work that USQ can achieve and I think other racing teams are taking notice of the quality of the support that USQ gives.'

Mr Assaillit will be racing at the famed Bathurst 1000 on 07 – 10 October with Ant Pedersen in the Fujitsu Racing, USQ Supported BF Falcon.

Contact Details:
Sam Tickell, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2559