Singapore Grand Prix 2010 - Visiting Team Lotus F1 Pit

In my previous post, I mentioned that we might have the chance to visit the pit area of Team Lotus F1. According to Von, it will all depends on the weather on whether we are going to visit the pit area. Thank god when we are about to depart the rain has stopped and we got confirmation.

We will have to go to Gate 2 to get to the Pit.

Security check.

Oh. On the second day, we were given the Lotus F1 Maxis cap and also knapsack. Nice. We have to walk a bit to get to the pit area after checking in into Gate2. On the way we saw the Porsche Carrera Cup is going on. Found out it's just a practice round later.

This Porsche came in 2nd in the race.

There are a lot of overhead pass linking from one place to another in the circuit.

It's J & J again. LOL.

Follow the Maxis sign and you won't get lost.

What, why we came to the Paddock Club?

Of course, we didn't get lost because the paddock is above the garage and pit. We're going to visit the garage and the pit. It's another round of checking to go in.

There's limited passes to going all at one time to visit the garage and pit. So, each time only 4 people are able to going at any one time. So, each group of four will take 10 minutes to visit and then pass the passes to another group of four.

While waiting, we of course take pictures.

That's Jackie's hand

Let me in!

A pic with the friendly and helpful peeps from Lotus Racing

Okay, let's fast forward. Jessica, Jackie and I were the last group to go in.

We were told that we can take any picture except for the picture of the engine and gearbox due to FIA regulations.

Once I stepped into the garage, I was greeted by many headphones.

During a Grand Prix, the pit crew literally make the garage their home. The are busy modifying the F1 race car based on the data collected during the practice rounds.

One would have guess that these are for fueling.

18 for Jarno Trulli

And 19 for Heikki Kovalainen

These two gentlemen are important people.

This is how the sit looks like.

This is how the pit looks like from this side.

Opposite is where we'll be sitting, the Pit Grandstand.

This is where the race car will exit after making a pit stop.

Communication with the drivers and accurate data collecting is crucial.

Each team has their own dining area. Too bad we don't have time to take a quick bite there :p

Different tires are used depending on the condition of the track.

The LR8 is the energy drink for the Lotus F1 Team. Different concoction for different kind of weather?

Ah, visiting the garage and pit area is such a once in a life time experience. Not every time one can easily visit the pit of a Formula One racing team.

After the visit, it's back to the Pit Grandstand. The Porsche Carrera Cup is about to start. Grid girls on standby, and wait, and wait and....

Yawn...when are they going to come the Porsches.

Alas, there they are, the racers and cars. Pity those grid girls posing and holding the sign in the same position for about 30 minutes I think.

The Porsche Carrera Cup is a very short race which only last about 30 minutes doing 12 laps on the circuit. Still nothing beats watching the Formula One cars racing neck to neck during the Race Day on Sunday. More on that soon.