Dubai, UAE, August 17, 2017:  After an exhaustive global search for the freshest and brightest young engineering talent, the recruitment phase of the 2017 INFINITI Engineering Academy closes with another year-on-year leap in applications. 

 

Driven by the success of previous editions, the fourth running of this unique automotive-to-motorsport engineering recruitment program attracted some 12,020 registrations, a near-threefold increase on last year. Students from 41 countries registered their interest in the Academy, with the Final events taking place during this summer in each of the seven participating regions:  Asia & Oceania, Canada, China, Europe, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, and US.

 

UAE will be the next of the seven Finals and will take place in Dubai on the 6th & 7th of September, when the ten finalists will compete to secure the only placement available for the region - a highly sought after year-long placement in the United Kingdom working for both INFINITI and Renault Sport Formula One Team.

 

“We are thrilled with the increased popularity of the INFINITI Engineering Academy, and its reputation and credentials building year after year,” said Tommaso Volpe, Global Director, INFINITI Motorsport.

 

“As this unique program connects ever more deeply with the world of engineering students, so we can strive to draw ever greater numbers of students to pit their skills against the best of their international peers. With every edition of the Academy, we are further impressed by the incredible talent attracted”, concluded Volpe.

 

“The seven Academy winners from last year’s intake have already been working hard in important roles at our Enstone base, strengthening our technical resource with fresh-thinking engineering ability. Attracting top new talent is crucial for success in Formula One, and the Academy helps us to do this”, said Cyril Abiteboul, Managing Director, Renault Sport Racing. 

 

“We look forward to and presume the same great levels of talent from this year’s winners, and they will be expected to quickly slot into our team and contribute to our 2017 and 2018 Formula One campaigns”, added Abiteboul. 

 

Juergen Schmitz, Managing Director, INFINITI Middle East, also commented: “Over the past few years, we have seen the INFINITI Engineering Academy go from strength to strength. There is a strong appetite for this exclusive once in a lifetime program amongst the region’s students, and we anticipate yet another hotly contested final in Dubai next month.”