DUOC UC Professor Shares Insights on the 2026 Motortec Technical Olympics
The traditional competition at Chile’s largest auto parts and services trade show will bring together students from technical high schools and vocational colleges for automotive mechanics-related challenges.
The Technical Olympics will once again be one of the main attractions at MOTORTEC Chile 2026. The competition, organized by DUOC UC and now in its fifth year, will bring together students from higher education institutions and technical-vocational schools to tackle various challenges related to the automotive industry.
For Claudio Larenas, the DUOC UC Melipilla representative in charge of the Olympics, this event goes far beyond a mere competition, serving as a showcase for young talent and specialized technical training. “The Olympics highlight the important role that education plays in developing new professionals for the industry,” he noted.
In that vein, he explained that the main objective of the tournament is to allow students to test their knowledge and skills in real-world scenarios. “The Olympics aim to have students demonstrate their technical skills in the field,” he said.
The tournament will feature a qualifying round prior to the fair, where participants will face various challenges related to electronic diagnostics, electromobility, engines, braking systems, and new technologies, all in a highly competitive environment.
At the fair itself, the competitions will be divided into two categories: Vocational Schools and High Schools/Technical Schools. In the case of higher education, two mixed trios per institution will participate, while in the high school category, mixed pairs will compete.
“All the students were chosen by their institutions to represent them. That shows they are at an advanced level and can perform very well in the competition,” said Larenas.
That said, he acknowledged that pressure plays a significant role during the competitions. “There’s a lot of pressure involved. The students have a set amount of time to complete each task, and nerves often work against them. We’ve seen in previous editions that very talented students end up with low scores because of that,” he warned.
For the trade show organized by IFEMA Madrid and FISA, part of the GL events group, the Technical Olympics also represent an opportunity to continue promoting the development of human capital and the professionalization of the automotive industry, one of the main focuses of the event.
The event will take place from May 18 to 20. The various competition tests will also be held during those three days. Don’t forget that if you want to participate in this event—which will also feature cars on display, contests, and technical talks—you must register via the following link. For now, tickets