INFINITI Gives Young Canadian Engineering Student a Life Changing Career Opportunity with Renault Sport Formula One Team

MISSISSAUGA, ON--(Marketwired - June 08, 2017) -

• Engineering student from London, Ontario wins a place in the 2017 edition of the acclaimed INFINITI Engineering Academy
• 23-year-old Western University student Matthew Crossan awarded a unique one-year placement to work with both INFINITI and Renault Sport Formula One™ Team
• Crossan will begin his 12-month placement in the UK in October, together with another six winners from all over the world

An engineering student from Canada has been awarded the career opportunity of a lifetime in Automotive and Formula One, as INFINITI announces Matthew Crossan as the Canadian winner of the 2017 INFINITI Engineering Academy.

Having been selected from thousands of entries and beating nine other finalists from around the country in an action-packed event at Luciani INFINITI in Montreal, Quebec today, 23-year-old Crossan from London, Ontario, will move to the UK in October for a career opportunity of a lifetime, complete with travel, accommodation, access to an INFINITI company car, a salary and the possibility to work alongside world-leading engineers at the cutting edge of the automotive and motorsport industries.

Crossan, who is a Masters of Engineering Science student with a specialty in composite materials at Western University, will spend six months working at Renault Formula One Team's Technical Center in the UK (Enstone) and six months working at INFINITI's European Technical Center (Cranfield). He will play a key role in the ongoing transfer of technical knowledge and expertise between Renault Sport Formula One Team and INFINITI.

"With every edition of the Academy, we are more and more impressed by the amount of interest received from students all over the world and the incredible level of the talent attracted. Students have seen the accomplishments of our former Academy graduates, who have forged successful careers in both automotive and motorsport and, as a result, more students than ever before want to participate to get this once-in-a-lifetime engineering experience to launch their careers," said Tommaso Volpe, Global Director, INFINITI Motorsport.

"With Formula One becoming more relevant to the automotive industry and with an increased focus of the placements this year being on the road car development, we are training a new generation of engineers who will play a key role in the crossover between the two industries," added Volpe.

"As a premium automotive brand and technical partner to Renault Sport Formula One Team, INFINITI is committed to enhancing the ownership experience through high-performance lessons learned in motorsport," said Stephen Lester, managing director, INFINITI Canada. "Programs like the INFINITI Engineering Academy help us realize that vision, and I am honoured to participate again this year, as a judge for the second Canadian final. All of the finalists should be proud of their performance here today, and I look forward to witnessing Matthew's career develop as a result of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Commenting on his win, Crossan said, "When my name was announced, I couldn't believe it! I met nine other very capable and strong candidates in the Final, who were all deserving of the opportunity, so I feel very fortunate to be selected as the winner. I can't wait to get started and I will give it all to prove I am a winner worthy of this amazing opportunity."

The INFINITI Engineering Academy, now in its fourth year, is a one-of-a-kind global search for the world's best up-and-coming engineers. For 2017, seven placements are available with one winner chosen each from Asia-Pacific, Canada, China, Europe (incl. Russia), Mexico, United Arab Emirates and US, to work with INFINITI and Renault Sport Formula One Team. The 2017 edition of the Academy attracted over 12,000 registrations from 41 different countries, setting a new record with a near-threefold increase on last year.

For more information on the INFINITI Engineering Academy, please visit academy.infiniti.com.

For more media information, please visit INFINITInews.com.

About INFINITI
INFINITI Motor Company Ltd. is headquartered in Hong Kong with representations in 50 markets around the world. The INFINITI brand was launched in 1989. Its range of premium automobiles is currently built in manufacturing facilities in Japan, the United States, United Kingdom and China. INFINITI design studios are located in Atsugi-Shi near Yokohama, London, San Diego and Beijing. INFINITI is in the middle of a major product offensive. The brand has been widely acclaimed for its daring design and innovative driver-assistance technologies. From the 2016 season, INFINITI is a technical partner of the Renault Sport Formula One team, contributing its expertise in hybrid performance.

More information about INFINITI and its industry leading technologies can be found at INFINITI.ca.

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