Off Track Tricks: Life Away from the Circuit
For a racing driver, life is geared towards race day, when
all the hard work and dedication are distilled into the white
heat of competition, but the job of being a Panasonic Toyota
Racing Formula 1 driver does not stop with developing and
driving the most sophisticated racing machines on the planet.
Formula 1 is more than 'just' a racing series; the world's
biggest corporations invest millions of dollars in participation
in, and sponsorship of, the elite class of motorsport while
the international media hang on every twist and turn of the
world's most popular annual sporting soap opera. The popularity
of Formula 1 means there is an insatiable appetite among sponsors
and the media, so drivers are made to work almost as hard
out of the car as in it. Whether it is activities such as
giving interviews, posing for photographs or appearing as
guest of honour at sponsor functions, Jarno Trulli and Timo
Glock are kept busy all year round. At every race Jarno and
Timo do their bit to support the Panasonic Toyota Racing marketing
and communications department, giving dozens of interviews
and appearing at various events. Jarno knows firsthand how
Formula 1's reach has spread in recent years and, after 11
years in the sport, he believes interest is higher than ever
in motorsport's elite category.
He explains: "In general the media interest has increased.
Formula 1 more and more has become an important worldwide
event so the media are always very interested in the drivers
and in the teams. This is nice because it is increasing our
profile so people more and more know about Formula 1 and our
work. Driving is the main focus for me but dealing with the
media takes a lot of time. They are doing their job and this
is part of my job so I do my best." But Formula 1 is
never routine - it is focused on excellence, pushing the limits
and, in particular at Panasonic Toyota Racing, a spirit of
challenge, so sometimes Jarno and Timo are asked to do something
extraordinary in the name of good publicity. When Timo started
his karting career 10 years ago dreaming of Formula 1, it
is a safe bet to assume he was not dreaming of driving a 350kmh
race car in downtown Valencia - at night. But that is just
what he was doing only a few weeks into his life as a Panasonic
Toyota Racing driver, at the city's spectacular City of Arts
and Sciences. "It was pretty special, I have to say,"
says Timo of his work for the team's annual marketing film.
"It was a little bit tricky because it's tight and slippery
and we had to be careful. The track was a mix of everything
but the run over the bridge was exciting and I enjoyed driving
between the buildings; that was fun. It was enjoyable and
a very special event for me." One-off projects aside,
even when the season is under way, some engagements are more
fun than others, as Timo found out in Australia on the eve
of his race debut for the team. As the new-boy in the paddock,
he received a lot of attention - and in Formula 1, that always
means a lot of interviews and photographs.
He was given a crash course in the off-track demands on a
driver; countless interviews, training with an Australian
Rules football team, visiting a local Toyota plant and trying
out a Toyota Auris rally car on a dirt track. It was clear
which activity put the biggest smile on his face. "I
am always happy to help but a Grand Prix weekend is very busy
so sometimes it can be hard," Timo says. "I know
it's important for the team so I always do my bit and sometimes
I get a nice surprise. Driving the rally car was definitely
the most fun - I even went back after the media had left and
had another go!" Of course, there is a serious side and
all the time drivers devote to off-track marketing and PR
activities, which for Timo in Australia totalled over 10 hours
of interviews, photos and appearances, is well spent creating
a positive image for the team and its partners. A Grand Prix
driver is a member of a sporting elite so they make the perfect
spokespeople for any brand, as President John Howett explains:
"They are ambassadors for the team and their role is
crucial to how we are perceived by the public. They are people
who are followed closely by the public and it is very important
they are representing us and our partners in the right way."
As Formula 1 has become more complex over the decades, so
has a driver's role within a team, with brand spokesman and
media personality added to the traditional task list of a
Grand Prix racer. "It is still about their driving skill
and their raw speed," says Team Manager Richard Cregan.
"But at the same time it has become a big business so
the drivers have to be prepared for the media and sponsor
side of things. It's now almost as important as the driving
itself." For a Formula 1 driver in the 21st century,
the pressure to perform on and off the track is higher than
ever but the goal remains the same in every aspect: to be
the best.
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