The grand final of the competition for the best mechanic in Croatia, Experten Trophy, brought together 11 finalists selected in earlier regional competitions. After the final exam in Zagreb, the title of the best went to Alan Šimić from Prezid near Čabar, while Mario Ljubić from Split and Robert Štiglić from Zlobin near Rijeka took second and third place.
In addition to the title of the best Croatian mechanic by Experten Trophy, the most valuable award of all, an exceptionally valuable prize fund was prepared for all competitors by renowned suppliers Exide, Liqui Moly, Mahle, Meyle, NTN-SNR, NRF and Valeo, as well as by Tokić itself, which provided EUR 3,000 to spend in Tokić stores for the top three places.
This is a competition for professionals, organised under the patronage of ATR International, the world’s most influential cooperation of auto parts distributors, and is also held in more than 30 cities in Germany. In Croatia, it is organised by Tokić Group and the TEC training centre, and the final brought together the best from the regional competitions in Zagreb, Osijek, Rijeka and Split.
“It was great! I work with my father, who I’ve been learning from since I was a kid, and as a mechatronics engineer I know I have to keep educating myself and keep up with technology. This competition is really a form of education and a chance to see where we stand next to other colleagues. Everyone was great and they have a lot of knowledge,” Alan told us after receiving the award.
During the two-day exam, the finalists went through advanced hands-on training and a knowledge assessment. At six workstations, they solved practical tasks in diagnosing complex engine systems, and their work was evaluated by a committee of TEC technical experts. Representatives of the ATR cooperation also attended the competition, as well as its members from Portugal, which is also joining the Experten Trophy competition.
A New Generation in the Workshop
The competition revealed an interesting profile of young and experienced Croatian mechanics. Many of them are involved in running service shops and are taking over workshops at a time when both vehicle technology and ways of working are changing. In addition to their remarkable skill during the exams, they also showed what the profession considers the most important trait of a good mechanic: curiosity and a desire to explore and understand.
“Experten Trophy is not just a competition of knowledge and skills, but a platform for continuous education, for transferring expertise from manufacturers and suppliers to service workshops, and for sharing experience among car mechanics. At a time of rapid development in automotive technology, this is key to the readiness and competitiveness of Croatian mechanics,” said Hrvoje Ivančević, director of the TEC training centre.
Modern vehicles are becoming increasingly complex, and information about new systems and service procedures needs to reach every workshop. That is why Tokić takes responsibility for transferring knowledge from suppliers to mechanics, without neglecting the value of human relationships. And so, statements from competitors such as “Even if we hadn’t done anything, we would have had a great time. We learned a lot with a great team and had fun with colleagues who love and understand the job. We all connected” best describe the first Croatian Experten Trophy in the search for the best Croatian mechanic.
