Lift As We Rise | Notes on Next Generation Success
Meet Dominic Illenberger, a Performance and Support Engineer at Hyundai Motorsport. In the first year of joining, his applied engineering skills and focussed committment contributed towards securing the 2022 FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) double title for team Elantra N TCR and driver, Mikel Azcona.
Dominic's pupil-to-pinnacle success story started during his school days at St Dominic’s Priory School in Port Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela Bay, a major hub for South Africa's automotive industry. Safe to say that sharing a name with his school’s patron saint was more a perfect coincidence, than an engineered Illenberger strategy!
On track, trackside and beyond, Dominic applies his high-performance expertise to optimise race performance. His personal passion for motorsport experiences, travel and photography is fuelled through his business, DCI Media - a sweet spot that enables the expression of his love for creating visual art through a camera, with his precision-based Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) career. In this way, STEM meets STEAM (STEM plus Art) and ikigai is found.
“Seize the moment, embrace the tools we now have to
push the boundaries of what’s possible.” – Dominic Illenberger
How Dominic got involved in motorsport STEM
I’ve always been involved in motorsport — it’s something deeply ingrained in my childhood and a passion I live and breathe every day. I’ve always found joy in understanding how things work, from the inner mechanics of machines to the processes that make them perform at their best. That curiosity pushed me deeper into wanting to understand aspects of STEM. Working in this field felt like the most natural path for me and ultimately laid the foundation for my career in motorsport.
What STEM meant as a pupil and what it means now as a professional
As a pupil, STEM honestly didn’t mean very much to me until the later years of school — probably around Grade 11, when it became real that I needed to start focusing on my future. At that stage, I was more interested in doing exciting things with my friends, like taking part in motorsport, than in sitting down and learning STEM.
But as I matured, I discovered a profound love for STEM and the beauty of how it all works. There’s something truly inspiring about exploring the findings and theories developed over centuries of human progress — from mathematics to engineering — and realising just how much we’ve already achieved as a species.
And now, working in the STEM field, it’s an absolute joy to take that knowledge and apply it: solving complex problems, pushing the boundaries of human performance, and seeing just how far we can go with the incredible solutions that STEM helps to unlock.
Navigating some of the challenges in successfully studying STEM
It was all a struggle (he laughs). But anything worthwhile in life is a struggle — and that’s exactly what makes it so rewarding. How did I overcome them? Hard work and daily grind. It’s simple - what you put in, is generally what you get out.
Key learnings that he applies today
I believe school and university aren’t just about the knowledge you pick up in lectures. What they really teach you are the tools: how to think critically, solve problems, manage pressure, and adapt. Those skills are what truly prepare you for the challenges you’ll face in your job — and they’re the same tools I use every day.
What can be done to prepare school pupils to excel in their STEM studies and careers
I’d hate to just say “work hard,” even though that’s partly true. What really makes the difference is finding the passion within yourself and discovering the niche of STEM that truly excites you. Once you connect with that interest, putting in the grind becomes much easier — and with patience, the rest will fall into place.
A typical work week and percentage of STEM application
A typical work week can look very different depending on the stage of the season. Sometimes it means traveling across the globe, other times it’s long days at the racetrack, and at other times it’s being in the office or workshop focused on research and development. When I think about it, STEM plays a surprisingly high role throughout all of this. It creeps into nearly everything I do — from data analysis to problem solving. If I had to put a number on it, I’d estimate around 65%.
Top three success criteria for teamwork
1. Foster a no-blame culture — focus on solutions, not pointing fingers.
2. Develop a thick skin and don’t take things personally; pressure is part of the sport.
3. Stay humble and never stop learning — motorsport evolves constantly, and so should we.
The key success factor driving his pupil-to-pinnacle story
A lot of sacrifice during university, combined with finding a real passion that I truly live and breathe. Once I discovered that, there was nothing else I was willing to settle for — it became the driving force behind my journey.
Dominic's vision for bright, young STEM/STEAM minds on the African continent
We’re living in a truly unique time where we have access to an incredible amount of information and tools, just a few clicks away – it’s unbelievable and profound. Technology has levelled the playing field across the globe in a way that has never been possible before. For young STEM minds in Africa, my vision is to see this access turned into opportunity — to drive innovation, solve local challenges, and showcase the talent and creativity the continent has to offer. I believe that if you find the right passion and motivation, the potential is truly unknown. People often say, “the sky is the limit”. I don’t think there is a limit — and that is beautifully exciting.
