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"Really there's no such thing as good luck, it's good preparation and hard work.”

These words, originally uttered by motor racing legend Bruce McLaren, are plastered all over the walls of the state-of-the-art McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) in Woking, United Kingdom.

And it’s a message 91���˰涶��student Alina Hutton strives to apply to her life and studies.

Alina completed work experience late last year, as part of her mechanical engineering degree, with the motor racing juggernaut based at the MTC.

McLaren is a name synonymous with motor racing, and their success is plain to see at the MTC. The sweeping, metal and glass-fronted facility highlights their place at the cutting-edge of engineering excellence. Step inside and you’re greeted by the famed “Boulevard”, proudly displaying some of the finest race cars ever developed and driven by the greatest drivers to ever step into a car – Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, the man with his name above the door Bruce McLaren, and many more.

You could hardly imagine a more exhilarating place for a self-described “rev-head” to spend a two month-long internship.

“I have always had a very keen interest in motorsport from a young age,” Alina says.

“My father loves classic cars, so I was brought up with that shared love for cars and as a result I have tried to focus my professional development around the motorsport industry.”

In addition to her father, Alina credits her high school physics teacher with igniting a passion for engineering in her.

“At the time I was naive to the possibilities and scope of engineering roles out there as I was worried engineering wouldn’t suit my extroverted personality.”

“I am glad my teacher cared so much about her students because without her I never would have taken on the challenge of being a woman in engineering.”

Thanks to starting down that road and then undertaking her degree at UNSW Canberra, Alina has enjoyed a range of incredible experiences – with her time at McLaren foremost among those.

She had initially reached out to Australian-based V8 Supercars teams when it came time to settle on a work experience placement. However, she tried her luck in F1.

Taking that chance led her to travelling to the other side of the world and being embedded in one of the most advanced mechanical engineering programs in the world.

Spending time with a racing team also has some other perks – such as going for a spin in the McLaren Artura sportscar (capable of reaching speeds above 300km/h) and meeting McLaren’s Australian Formula 1 superstar, Oscar Piastri.

Of course, work experience is about more than fun perks and Alina says her time at McLaren was invaluable for her to gain a greater understanding about putting mechanical engineering concepts into practice.

“After my first week of training I was given my own project to complete,” she recalls.

“I was treated as an engineer in all aspects of my work. I was required to organise meetings, establish progress reports and complete the design process just as any other engineer in my department would.”

Alina worked within the Design and Engineering Group at McLaren and as a sign of the highly secretive environment those working in the ultra-competitive world of motor racing face, she was contractually obliged to not provide any specifics about what she worked on. Only that it related to racing and provided her with exposure to design and manufacturing.

Alina hopes her experience with McLaren encourages other students to aim high and think outside the box when it comes to selecting an internship – especially to pick somewhere that allows students to get hands-on experience rather than just sitting back and observing.

Last year also saw Alina commissioned as an officer in the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corps. She will continue on her journey with the Australian Army in 2025.

And perhaps Alina will be lucky enough to be invited back to McLaren one day on a more permanent basis, considering her short stint with the team coincided with them winning the 2024 Formula 1 Constructors World Championship.

Luck? There’s no such thing.