Photo : LAURENT CARTALADE / VSA

 

"There are two types of paddock: the paddock (with teams' trucks) and the hospitality paddock," explains Martin Goureau, in charge of track safety and the paddock. "In the paddock, there is basically one truck per team, with some exceptions like Toyota (there is an awning between both trucks), or Porsche and Audi with global structures. In all, we list between 35 and 40 trucks. The hospitality paddock is of course reserved for teams' hospitalities like Audi and Porche which are independent structures. You also find buses and other trucks. In all, there are around 30 vehicles. Actually, there are about 200 trucks going in and out during the set-up week. The Audi structure alone counts 40!"

It takes several days to set up all these big structures: "The set-up started the day after Moto GP French Grand Prix, in other words Wednesday, May 21st. For the Test Day, it had to be completed by Thursday and for the race by Saturday, June 7th at 6:00 p.m., there is very precise regulation about it. Beyond that, we can penalize them financially but we are not here for that. Of course, there is some tolerance because teams could have been delayed by storms, for example. In that case, we can give them an additional day. The goal is to put a little pressure on them so they finish quickly, without being overly repressive about it." 

Each place is very precise and of course determined in advance. "The set-up plan is very complex to do. It is established with Vincent Beaumesnil, ACO Sports Director. We create a preliminary version around May 1st, that we re-work at least 10 times up until the last truck enters the paddock. I adjust the plan all the time in function of what is needed."

The arrival of the trucks at the heart of the paddock is an orchestrated exercise. "I admire the truck drivers because they manage to position the trucks at a millimeter close after several maneuvers. That is why we have very precise timing for trucks to enter. We first brought in the structures of Speedchef (catering), Porsche, Audi and Corvette and only after did we place trucks around. It's a real craftsman's endeavor!"

As far as leaving is concerned, there too delays are strict. "Everyone must be gone by the end of seven days. There will only remain loading trucks the 8th and 9th days. This includes both the paddock and the hospitality paddock. There too is a dismantling date even though there are exemption requests. It takes longer to set the paddocks up than to take them down!"

David Bristol / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, FRIDAY MAY 30 2014, TEST DAY WEEKEND. A paddock at a millimeter close!