Komatsu hosted the Atlassian Williams Racing F1 Team as part of the Australian GP last week in a continuation of their partnership.
The opportunity provided Komatsu staff and customers the opportunity to meet key members from the Atlassian Williams Racing F1 Team at Komatsu’s Perth facilities.
“It is always a pleasure to welcome our partners at Atlassian Williams Racing into the heart of Komatsu’s day-to-day operations, and especially so at the start of a new year of our partnership,” Komatsu vice president of global brand transformation Todd Connolly said.
“Each time we have had this opportunity in the past twelve months, it has proven to be a mutually memorable experience with our Komatsu colleagues immersing themselves into our partnership just as much as our friends at Williams learn more about our business.
“Starting a new season in Australia offered us the perfect opportunity to share and showcase the partnership to our colleagues in Perth – after our visit to Wacol, Brisbane last year – and it was another special day.”
Additionally, two up-and-coming Komatsu employees, Nick Colwell from Komatsu’s Tamworth branch and graduate engineer Yujiao Cao from the Fairfield branch, received a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The pair had access to the Atlassian Williams Racing pit at the Australian GP, where they got to experience the behind-the-scenes of an F1 team.
Through this experience, they saw how top-tier technical skills, safety, and engineering come together at the peak of motorsport.
“It was an unbelievable experience. I’ve become an F1 fan ever since Komatsu partnered with Williams Racing last year and had actually bought tickets with my partner for this year’s GP, and then I found out I was going to be the pit – you can’t really top that,” Cao said.
Colwell said it was great to meet and learn from the lead Williams engineer and leading hand and get insights into what happens on race day.
“That was a highlight for me for sure, being able to talk to the leading hand of the mechanics team and ask questions about how he became a member of the team and what it entails on a daily basis, as well as what they get up to behind the scenes – I learnt a lot I can take back to my everyday role,” Colwell said.
Komatsu and Atlassian Williams Racing F1 Team had signed their partnership ahead of the 2024 F1 season. The partnership continues into its second season with the team’s 9th visit to a Komatsu facility in twelve months and second in Australia.
In Perth, team principal James Vowles and ambassador Jacques Villeneuve, who won the 1997 championship for Williams using a Komatsu-manufactured gearbox component, visited Komatsu’s Welshpool facility to see behind the scenes and meet Komatsu employees.
Vowles and Villeneuve were led on a tour of the 200,000-square-meter facility, having the opportunity to get up close and personal with the impressive Komatsu machines and to meet some of the employees. They were also given the chance to drive a Komatsu HD1500 rigid dump truck, earning applause from the Komatsu employees.
“It was great to be back at a Komatsu facility as we start the 2025 season. The value created in this partnership is undeniable, and to be able to meet so many of the people that make it happen is truly special,” Atlassian Williams Racing Team PrincipaL James Vowles said.
“We are delighted to be continuing our relationship with Komatsu, and this visit is just the first step we are taking together in year two. We are excited to welcome two Komatsu employees to our garage for a ‘Day in the Life’ experience and get back on track again this weekend in Melbourne.”
Located approximately ten kilometres from Perth city centre, Komatsu’s Welshpool facility is home to over 770 Komatsu Australia employees and assembles a variety of construction and mining machinery, including Komatsu’s industry-leading Autonomous Electric Drive Mining Haul trucks. The site also incorporates a world-class remanufacturing centre.
The site also features a training centre designed to nurture the upcoming wave of engineering talent in-amongst the bustle of the machine assembly, and a world class remanufacturing centre that rebuild engines, electric wheel motors, transmissions and other major components.
After a tour of the facility, 12 Komatsu employees were treated to a special meet and greet with their Atlassian Williams Racing guests before a Q+A session with over 300 Komatsu members of staff took place – bringing the partnership to the heart of the day-to-day business.
“We have so much pride in our employees, so to be able to share the excitement of this partnership to over 850 of them was truly something impressive. Komatsu and Williams have already created plenty of value together through the shared values of ambition, perseverance, collaboration and authenticity,” Komatsu managing director Sean Taylor said.
“The continuation of our collaboration for a second year is something both organisations hold in high regard – and we can’t wait to see where the rest of the year takes us.”
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