Double Life Series: Tim Leithhead

At KUSCH, we believe great engineering starts with great people – and great people have lives that venture beyond design. Our team brings their whole selves to work, and that means bringing passions, pursuits, and “other lives” that make them sharper, more curious, and more creative. We want to celebrate those double lives – the ones that remind us that when engineers stay balanced, they build better.

This month, meet Tim Leithhead, mechanical engineer by day and racing driver and founder of 67 Engineering by weekend.

Tim’s relationship with motorsport started at age six, going racing with his dad. It’s where his interest in engineering began. “I guess that’s what made me decide to become an engineer in the first place,” he says. Once he finished his degree, he started taking motorsport more seriously, and founded 67 Engineering – his own small business where he engineers and races cars.

Most people are surprised to learn he drives them too. “A lot of people tend to say ‘oh I thought you only worked on the cars!'” he says. He’s modest about it – “it seems a little extra” – but the driving is as much a part of it as the engineering.

The two worlds have a give and take. When work is busy, it can mean late nights at the workshop to keep up. But KUSCH gives him the flexibility to get away on weekends for championship rounds, and to take a day off during the week for testing when needed. “KUSCH has always been totally understanding that while I love working there, they aren’t my only love,” he says. “There’s always flexibility – as well as interest – for when I’m going interstate for a championship round.”

That interest from the team is something Tim values. A standout moment was when Martin and Mitch made the trip to Winton to watch the car on track during a round of the Super Series. “It was awesome to see how much they enjoyed the day, and really encouraging that even my boss was interested in my double life,” he says. There’s also an ongoing dynamic whenever the Sydney team goes go-karting. “There is an expectation that I must win, and if I don’t I know I’m in for it,” he admits. “It’s genuinely the most pressure I’ve ever felt behind the wheel.”

On the engineering side, the project management demands of running a race weekend have sharpened how he works. Coordinating travel interstate, logistics, how things run at the track, managing the people working on the car, maximising mechanical performance, and then his own performance as the driver – it all requires the same discipline he brings to his work at KUSCH. “The time and project management has been a massive aspect,” he says.

For Tim, maintaining both comes down to something straightforward. “They feed each other. I’m constantly cross-applying skills, and the challenge of both keeps me sharp.” And beyond the skills, there’s a simpler reason. “Most importantly, I get to spend a lot of time with my dad when I go motor racing.”

His advice to anyone in a similar position is just as direct. “Have an honest conversation with your employer about your other calling. If they are worth their salt, they will want to support you any way they can.