HFG’S STEFAN HARLAND REPRESENTS TEAM GB AT ISUZU I-1GP IN THAILAND

A huge congratulations to Hunt Forest Group’s very own Stefan for his exceptional performance at the recent Isuzu I-1GP Global Technical Skills Competition, held in Bangkok, Thailand. After winning the UK national title, Stefan earned the chance to represent Team GB on the international stage, an opportunity he described as “overwhelming but absolutely incredible.”

We caught up with Stefan following his return to hear more about the experience, how the competition unfolded, and what it meant to be part of such a prestigious global event.

From UK Champion to Global Competitor

Earlier this year, Stefan was crowned the winner of the Isuzu UK Technical Skills event, securing his place on a plane to Thailand to compete against 17 other teams from around the world.

“I was completely shocked,” Stefan said. “I’ve only been working with Isuzu’s for about 18 months, so I went into the competition quite casually. To be named number one in the UK, especially against technicians with years, even decades of experience, was surreal.”

Facing the Challenge—Together

At the I-1GP, Stefan was paired with a fellow UK technician he hadn’t worked with before and was coached by a new mentor. That dynamic brought its own learning curve.

“We’re so used to working independently. Suddenly, everything had to be tackled as a team,” he explained. “We’d had some time to train together at Isuzu’s IT HQ beforehand, which helped, but it was still a big adjustment. We tripped over each other a few times, literally and figuratively, but chatting to the other teams, it seemed like we weren’t the only ones!”

Competing Under Pressure

The competition tested both theoretical knowledge and practical skills across electrical systems, component identification, gearbox diagnostics, and more.

“There was an hour-long written test, and then we had 45 minutes to diagnose and repair faults under real-world conditions,” Stefan said. “And the pressure was intense—spectators cheering, Union Jacks waving, the whole setup was amazing, but that fanfare definitely added to the stress.”

Despite the high-stakes environment, Stefan and his teammate placed 10th overall out of 18 global teams, a result he’s “genuinely proud of.”

Preparation and Perspective

Stefan credits part of his success to the training and support he received at Hunt Forest Group. “My Service manager, Sam gave me time to do extra online training, which made a real difference, especially brushing up on wiring diagrams and system navigation,” he said.

The competition also gave him a new outlook on fault diagnosis: “I learned alternative methods I hadn’t considered before. I’ve already started applying some of those techniques back at work.”

A Taste of Thailand

Aside from the competition, Stefan experienced Thai culture for the first time—heat, humidity, and spicy food included.

“The heat hit me like a wall when we left the airport, my glasses fogged up straight away,” he laughed. “We didn’t get loads of time to explore, but we tried some local food and got a glimpse of the culture. Everyone was so friendly, it really stood out.”

What’s Next?

Now back in the UK, Stefan is still riding high from the experience and is already looking ahead.

“I’d absolutely recommend it to any technician. It felt like the Olympics of our trade. I’d love the chance to go again, and I’ll be aiming to keep hold of that UK champion title!”