With just under a month before the race season starts again, it seems that our plan to not have a plan for 2012 have progressed very
smoothly, formulating itself into something closely resembling a plan
without actually being one!
We have checked, refurbished and purchased some new equipment, ready for another year. Trucks have been serviced, and are waiting for the truckies to jump back in them and head off for another year of racing.
Contact with many of the teams has found that testing of new cars and drivers has been going on at various tracks around the warmer parts of Europe. These include Estoril, Valencia, Guadix, Vallelunga and even Donnington in the UK. Winter testing can be a massive expense and gamble. Imagine sending a truck, many kilometres to a track, hopeing for good, dry conditions, and arriving there to find that the weather will be changeable, with the chance of rain. Obviously, a wet track is not what you want to be greeted with. These tests are very rarely undertaken at short notice and you cannot plan the weather. As well as making sure that the chosen track is available for your use, all of the attending engineers, mechanics, etc have to be booked on planes or driven to the track. Hotels and catering for many hungry mouths has to be arranged. Bad weather is EXPENSIVE. And it,s no good for topping up your t-shirt tan either!!!
The trucks that are sent on tests are loaded with enough spares to enable any breakages, modifications, or crash damage to be sorted out, so that the testing time is not wasted. As well as nuts, bolts, tables, chairs, drivers kit, food, drinks, oil and other fluids, set-up equipment and specialised tools for the car, mechanics tools, electrical equipment, tyres, trolleys, car jacks, corner weight scales, etc,etc. The logistics behind all this can be a headache for everyone concerned.
We are not afforded the luxury of having dedicated test trucks. Whilst the trucks are away testing, how do we find time to have new graphic designs or paint jobs applied? How do we check and update any of the car spares that the trucks will need? How do we schedule any repairs or servicing for the trucks? It,s never ending. And you can guarantee that whilst your race truck is being serviced at a garage, on its way to a test, sat in a paint shop. SOMEONE will need something that has been left on the truck!
DO YOU FEEL SORRY FOR US YET???
The windows of free time available, that appear in any teams winter calendars, are rapidly used up due to sorting out these things. Winter time is probably more difficult to cope with than when the race season starts.
This just about sums up the teams pre season activities. Next stop for us is Italy, via Germany.
We have checked, refurbished and purchased some new equipment, ready for another year. Trucks have been serviced, and are waiting for the truckies to jump back in them and head off for another year of racing.
Contact with many of the teams has found that testing of new cars and drivers has been going on at various tracks around the warmer parts of Europe. These include Estoril, Valencia, Guadix, Vallelunga and even Donnington in the UK. Winter testing can be a massive expense and gamble. Imagine sending a truck, many kilometres to a track, hopeing for good, dry conditions, and arriving there to find that the weather will be changeable, with the chance of rain. Obviously, a wet track is not what you want to be greeted with. These tests are very rarely undertaken at short notice and you cannot plan the weather. As well as making sure that the chosen track is available for your use, all of the attending engineers, mechanics, etc have to be booked on planes or driven to the track. Hotels and catering for many hungry mouths has to be arranged. Bad weather is EXPENSIVE. And it,s no good for topping up your t-shirt tan either!!!
 |
| winter test at valencia |
We are not afforded the luxury of having dedicated test trucks. Whilst the trucks are away testing, how do we find time to have new graphic designs or paint jobs applied? How do we check and update any of the car spares that the trucks will need? How do we schedule any repairs or servicing for the trucks? It,s never ending. And you can guarantee that whilst your race truck is being serviced at a garage, on its way to a test, sat in a paint shop. SOMEONE will need something that has been left on the truck!
DO YOU FEEL SORRY FOR US YET???
The windows of free time available, that appear in any teams winter calendars, are rapidly used up due to sorting out these things. Winter time is probably more difficult to cope with than when the race season starts.
This just about sums up the teams pre season activities. Next stop for us is Italy, via Germany.