By BMW Canada
Whitby, ON – the best of BMW’s factory trained technicians were competing in the Aftersales Competition for Excellence (ASCE) national final for the title of the Nation’s best technician. The competition brought together over 170 technicians from across the country in a series of preliminary tests in their respective regions. The top two technicians from each region, as determined by a previous set of tests, (and in one case, a tie-breaking face-off) were sent to the BMW Group University in Whitby to compete for the national title and a chance to go to the World Championships in Munich next year.

After months of studying and testing in the preliminary rounds of the competition, the finalists arrived in Whitby. The ASCE competition entailed a series of closed-book, written tests . Peter Blesse, a finalist from Town + Country BMW, said he spent 50 hours on evenings and weekends studying for the first set of tests. The final, required technicians to complete six 1-hour modules during the course of the day. The final tests were timed; technicians had 60 minutes to diagnose and repair a planted and relatively uncommon ‘fault’ on a BMW. David Laliberté, from BMW Laval explained that the closed-book test is extremely difficult, especially given the tight time restraints. Those who stay calm under pressure, come out on top.

Competitors agreed that they received significant support from their respective home retailers in pursuing the competition. Each technician made their retailer proud; the match-up was an extremely impressive showcase of BMW talent. With bragging rights up for grabs, tension was high, and in the end, there was only a slight difference in points between the top three technicians.

The winners of the competition were unveiled at a reception dinner ceremony that evening. David Laliberté of BMW Laval was declared the 1st place winner of the 2009 ASCE competition and will go on to represent Canada in the World Championships in Munich next year. Second and third runners-up were, respectively: Benjamin Fallis of BMW Toronto and Peter Blesse of Town + Country BMW, followed by Stuart Weeks of Calgary BMW, Bryon Ruttle from Edmonton BMW, and Eric Charron of Park Avenue.

After another successful year for the ASCE Competition, the final day of testing in Whitby was not only a display of extraordinary technical talent, but also a testament to the dedication and drive of BMW’s highly trained technicians and their passion for the trade. The ever-evolving nature of BMW automotive technology demands utmost dedication to continuous education and skill development. These technicians epitomize this dedication and drive.

The ASCE competition runs every 2 to 3 years and is open to all passionate, driven BMW technicians who are keen on representing their region and their country in national and international competition.