Technicians put diagnostic skills to the test at Delphi Academy
Delphi Academy once again played host to the Top Technician 2025 semi-final, which saw 10 of the UK’s most skilled vehicle technicians gather at the training centre in Warwick to tackle a series of demanding, hands-on diagnostic challenges, designed to push their expertise and problem-solving skills to the limit.
“As judges, our role is to challenge the technicians with tasks that test their skills under real-world conditions,” explained David Guilfoyle, Delphi Academy technical trainer and Top Technician Judge.
“Each exercise assesses not just whether they can find the fault, but how they approach it, their logical process and methodical testing. It’s fascinating to see the different ways technicians tackle the same problem.”
The semi-finalists faced five 20-minute exercises, with no prior knowledge of the vehicles or faults until the start of each task. Challenges ranged from intermittent charging faults on a 2019 Nissan Leaf, to a Skoda Superb diesel pressure system failure, and a low-pressure air-conditioning leak on a Mazda MX-5.
The day’s biggest surprise came in the form of a Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, one of only 100 in the UK. Many technicians admitted to feeling apprehensive at first, having never worked on a fuel cell vehicle and anticipating complex drive system faults. In reality, the issue was unrelated to the powertrain. It was a simple battery drain issue, caused by the faulty rear windscreen heater.
Finally, competitors faced intermittent electrical faults on a Skoda Superb, testing them across a broad spectrum of real-world scenarios.
The combination of challenging vehicle faults and strict time limits highlighted the competition’s focus on structured diagnostic thinking, adaptability, and composure under pressure, reinforcing why the Top Awards remain one of the industry’s most respected tests of skill.
“The atmosphere at the semi-finals was incredible,” said Luke Garratt, UK technical services manager at Delphi. “For first-time entrants, walking in and facing the tasks is both exciting and nerve-wracking. We push technicians across every aspect of the trade, from standard diagnostics to completely new challenges, like the Toyota Mirai. Hosting such a prestigious event is a real honour and it really shows why ongoing training and development is so important in keeping up with today’s fast-changing vehicles.”
The 2025 Top Technician finalists will return to Delphi Academy on 15th November for a series of longer, 50-minute challenges, designed to further test their skills, knowledge, and problem-solving abilities. Delphi Academy will also welcome finalists from the Top Garage and Top Apprentice competitions, as they face their final assessments.