Never having taken a sick day and earning a reputation for always getting the job done has paid off for 20‑year‑old agricultural apprentice technician Devon Begbie, who swapped tractors for Supercars at the Taupo Super 440.
Despite the cancellation of Sunday’s race, Devon said the rain‑affected weekend was an unforgettable experience.
“I’ve never done anything even close to that – being in the pits with the crew and seeing all the action up close was absolutely amazing,” he said.
Devon spent several days embedded with the Red Bull Ampol Racing crew, helping with garage set‑up, tyre preparation and clean‑up, and supporting the team through practice, qualifying and extended Saturday races brought forward to avoid the weather.
He also scored a thrilling hot lap that left him “dizzy but absolutely amazed”, and came away inspired by the pace, professionalism and teamwork in the Supercars paddock.
“The pit workshops were absolutely phenomenal, it was a lot more full‑on than any tractor workshop I’ve ever worked in,” he said.
“Watching how the engineers and mechanics backed each other up under pressure really showed me how important strong teamwork is in any workshop.”
Devon, who is completing his fourth‑year apprenticeship with local New Holland dealership Whyteline, grew up on a dairy farm near Paeroa and has been around tractors his entire life.
More interested in machinery than milking, he joined Whyteline through a Gateway work experience programme at college, spending one day a week in the workshop to get an understanding of the trade.
Now about 90% through his apprenticeship, Devon is training as an all‑round tractor technician, servicing the full range of New Holland tractors including the popular T6000 series, as well as balers, bale feeders and mixer wagons for Whyteline’s customers.
Dealer principal Mark Whyte said Devon’s reliability is exactly what Whyteline needs to keep local dairy farmers running.
“Devon has a great work ethic. He is very reliable. He doesn’t let us down… I don’t think that Devon’s had a sick day since he’s been here,” he said.
“With most of Whyteline’s customers in dairy and contracting, that kind of consistency in the workshop is critical when machines can’t afford to be off the paddock for long.”
Whyteline is a third‑generation, family‑owned and operated agricultural machinery dealership celebrating 50 years in business this August.
Operating from Paeroa in the Hauraki District, the dealership supports farmers and rural customers in a region that is around 90% dairy, as well as a growing number of lifestyle block owners.
Devon is one of several exceptional apprentice service technicians who will experience race day action at Supercars races across Australia and New Zealand during the 2026 season thanks to New Holland's sponsorship of the Red Bull Ampol Racing team.
Red Bull Ampol Racing team Senior Partnerships, Media & Communications Manager James Young said the sweet spot for the apprenticeship program was genuine behind‑the‑scenes access.
“Devon was treated like part of the team—in the garage, around pit stop practice and working alongside our performance staff, not just standing behind a fence watching cars go by.
“We want the apprentices to feel like part of the team from the moment they arrive. There’s a team kit presentation, a proper introduction in the garage and then they’re embedded with the crew for the whole weekend to see exactly what we do, how we do it, and add value where we know they can,” James said.