UTI Graduate Wins Inaugural Aston Martin Challenge

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Little did Brian Weiss know when he graduated from the BMW STEP program at Universal Technical Institute (UTI) campus in Avondale, Ariz., that he would one day be named the top Aston Martin technician in North America.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120206/LA48557)

In December 2011, Aston Martin executives presented Weiss with a trophy and iPad2 recognizing him as the winner of the inaugural Aston Martin Technicians Challenge. The challenge took place Nov. 17-18, 2011, at the Aston Martin Irvine (Calif.) training center where nine technicians were put through a series of diagnostic challenges. Weiss scored an impressive 506.16 points out of a possible 600 and has been invited to be a judge for the 2012 challenge. 

"It's an incredible honor to win this inaugural event," said Weiss. "I can't wait to go back next year and shift my perspective from a competitor to a judge."

Weiss attended Aston Martin training in the United Kingdom and is now a 10-plus year veteran of working with Aston Martin. One of his favorite memories of his time overseas was the opportunity to drive a Vanquish.

"This was the first time I had driven the Vanquish with the F1 style SportShift transmission, and also the first time I had driven a right hand drive car," said Weiss. "Although a bit unnerving driving a $270,000 car on the left side of the skinny English roads, it was an experience I will never forget."

A 1997 graduate, Weiss enjoys reminiscing about his days at UTI and recalls what motivated him to attend the school, considered to be industry's choice for automotive, collision repair, diesel, motorcycle and marine technician training.

"I looked at it as one year of my life," said Weiss. "I will do the best I can for one year to see if I can be the best at it. I already loved doing it and it is easy to learn something you like doing. It was easy for me and fun."

In addition to Weiss' impressive Aston Martin skills, he is also certified to work on BMWs, Jaguars and Rolls-Royce vehicles. Weiss is also an ASE certified master technician and previous to Sill-TerHar Motors, he was a technician, and then a shop foreman at Gaudin Jaguar Porsche Aston Martin of Las Vegas.

For more information about UTI visit www.uti.edu.

CONTACT:  Tina Miller, Director of External Communications, [email protected] , +1-623-445-0943

SOURCE Universal Technical Institute, Inc.