COBHAM, UK, Oct 6, 2025 – Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division has announced the winner and runners-up of the inaugural Telemetry Tested: Future Skills Challenge, a global competition co-developed with Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing and MENSA.
From a pool of over 1100 completed entries, three finalists emerged victorious, having completed an interactive quiz of rapid-fire, data-driven scenarios that tested both esports’ instincts and real-world engineering problem-solving. The challenge highlighted the high-performance skillset shared between sim racers and next-generation engineers, measuring speed, logic, data analysis, and strategy under pressure – core aptitudes in both disciplines.
Spanish software engineer Antonio Masuda claimed first prize by answering all questions correctly in the fastest time. A master’s graduate in data science and an F1 fan, his passion for motorsport and problem-solving capabilities secured him the top spot against fierce competition.
Two runners up shared second place: Kyle Tunstall, a UK-based roster clerk at Network Rail and an occasional F1 and Gran Turismo gamer, and Sebastian Kowalke, former F1 Esports Head of Engineering, race engineer, and race strategist.
As overall winner, Masuda will receive a full Fanatec sim rig. To celebrate their success, all three finalists were hosted at a special event at the Red Bull Technology Campus on 1st October, which included a tour of the factory, a sim demo from Red Bull Sim driver Sebastian Job and his teammates, and participation in Hexagon’s Future Skills event exploring how new thinking can sustain competitive advantage in global engineering.
Digital manufacturing and engineering’s next generation needs hybrid skills
The competition highlighted how manufacturing and engineering are being redefined, with tomorrow’s talent needing to pair technical expertise with agility, data literacy, and decision making – skills increasingly honed in digital arenas like esports as well as classrooms and apprenticeships. In the face of global skills crisis, Hexagon believes the future lies in opening new pathways and recognizing potential wherever it emerges, bridging the energy of esports with the challenges of engineering to attract and engage talented innovators from unexpected backgrounds. Hexagon’s event at Red Bull showcased how these hybrid skills translate directly into the future of digital manufacturing and engineering, underscoring its commitment to rethinking how skills are developed and recognized, and to closing the talent gap by igniting the interest of the next generation of innovators.
“The winners of the Future Skills Challenge have shown the high-performance mindset we need for the next generation of engineering talent – the ability to work with data, think strategically, make decisions under pressure, and embrace technology. It’s exciting to see the talent pool that is emerging, equipped with hybrid skillsets that matter in both sim racing and engineering,” said Alexandre Aime, VP Global Marketing at Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division.
Sophia Heath, Technical Recruitment Engineer at Oracle Red Bull Racing, said: “To stay competitive, we must reach new people and inspire them to see themselves in what is an exciting, challenging and rewarding industry. Engineering needs fresh ideas and diverse talent to shape the future, and events like this show the unexpected places where those skills can come from.”
“We’ve enjoyed hosting the winners at the event at the Red Bull Technology Campus, where we could showcase these skills, inspire the next generation, and demonstrate what’s possible in tackling the global skills challenge facing modern engineering and manufacturing.”
Winner profiles
Antonio Masuda, Spain
Masuda works as a software engineer for a tech consulting firm, where he specialises in cloud solutions and leverages AI models in real-time applications. He holds a degree in Maths and Computer Science, followed by a Master’s in Data Science. His win highlights how modern engineering tools, including AI, cloud, and real-time data, intersect with motorsports strategy.
Kyle Tunstall, UK
Tunstall, currently a roster clerk at Network Rail, and formerly a computer-aided design (CAD) technician, demonstrated how engineering and a natural talent for esports aptitude can thrive, even with experience only extending as far as casual gaming with racing simulators.
Sebastian Kowalke, Germany
Kowalke is a former F1 eSports Head of Engineering, race engineer and race strategist, having won four races with KICK Sauber in the last two seasons. His success showcases how F1 esports, data strategy capabilities, and real-time decision-making are directly transferable to digital manufacturing and engineering roles today. He said: “I felt the Future Skills Challenge was the perfect chance to put my skills to the test. The experience gave me valuable insights into working under pressure and has sharpened my competitive edge.”
About Hexagon
Hexagon is the global leader in measurement technologies. We provide the confidence that vital industries rely on to build, navigate, and innovate. From microns to Mars, our solutions ensure productivity, quality, safety, and sustainability in everything from manufacturing and construction to mining and autonomous systems.
Hexagon (Nasdaq Stockholm: HEXA B) has approximately 24,800 employees in 50 countries and net sales of approximately 5.4bn EUR. Learn more at hexagon.com.
