Meet the team – Vehicle Test Facility Manager David Tang

We caught up with one of LRWEA’s newest team members, David Tang, to find out what led him to a career in vehicle testing and why it’s probably best not to cross him.

What’s your career history?

When I left school, I studied BTEC General Engineering at Brooklands College, then went on to study HND Computing at Guildford College, franchised with Portsmouth University. After graduating I went straight to work in the commercial sector at Volkswagen as a courtesy driver. From there, I left automotive for the betting industry where I was a Studio Operator for three years, managing and monitoring live screen content.

But I was drawn back into the automotive industry, I moved from Surrey to Bedfordshire and took a job at Millbrook as an Emission Lab Technician. That’s where I worked on my first ever test vehicle, a McLaren MP4-12C - that was pretty daunting! From Millbrook, I landed a role at Helix as Senior Test Technician and over 11 years I worked up the rankings ending up as Vehicle Test Facility Manager.

 

Tell me about your new LRW role?

I’m delighted to be LRWEA’s Vehicle Test Facility Manager – it’s a close team and we’re well supported by the Directors. I’m enjoying being involved with the future plans for the facility and excited to see how we can further evolve it.  

 

What’s your car history?

I’m definitely a petrol head! I grew up with cars. The first car I worked on was a Toyota Corolla GT Twin Cam 16v with my Dad to rebuild the engine. Now I drive a modified Volkswagen Golf GTI which is an ongoing project and a bit of a money pit! Cars are definitely in my family genes - my older brother works for the Mercedes Petronas F1 team.  

 

What’s your dream car? LaFerrari.  

 

Any hidden talents?  

I’m a first-degree black belt in Taekwondo. I attend practice weekly with my wife and daughter, who also is a black belt too.

 

Looking for emissions or climatic testing? Get in touch with the team: [email protected]

 

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