Today was the pits

Author: Matt Preston Become a contributor

Day 2 of the 2006 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. We felt much more relaxed getting to the circuit, opting for the slow train with only a handful of people on it rather than the fast train where guards on the station had to prise the doors shut by hand while people inside had their faces pressed up against the glass. It may have taken us longer but we weren’t missing anything.

The morning free practice started at 11 and we were still on site by 10. The weather once again was rather interesting. A very strong wind kept us cool, if not cold and the strong sunshine helped give us red noses and pink arms. The rain threatened all day. A massive ominous looking storm cloud skimmed the edge of the site all day, looking like it could drown the track at any second but it never happened. Qualifying when it’s wet is a spectacle in itself which we wouldn’t have minded seeing but when the track is dry and warm the cars go so much faster.

Qualifying started at 2pm. 3 sessions, each one 15 minutes long. All the cars are out for the first session and the slowest 6 are eliminated. The slowest 6 from session 2 are eliminated and then the top 10 battle it out for fastest lap to decide the order. You could feel the extra tension and excitement emanating from the cars, the drivers, the crowd and the flurry of activity in the pits to the right of where we sat. We could make out some of what as going on from the tiny video wall in front of our grandstand. Why it was so small i have no idea. You couldn’t read any of the times or positions of drivers and the Japanese PA commentary was of no use to the handful of westerners dotted around us. Luckily a woman behind us translated as much as she could between each session letting us know who had been eliminated.

After Qualification was over came the slightly nervous wait for something really special. We are lucky enough to have a friend who’s Brother works for the McLaren team. He had called the night before to say he may be able to arrange showing us round the McLaren garage. An amazing stroke of luck and after getting confused by paddock entries we finally met up with him, got our temporary VIP passes and before we knew it we were wandering through the pits, into the McLaren garage watching the engineers dismantling and rebuilding Kimi Raikkonen’s Formula 1 car!! After that we were shown up and down the pit straight, looking into all the other garages as they practiced pit stops, prepared gear for the race the next day and moved cars on trollies up to Parc Ferme where they stay, untouched, until the race.

It didn’t really sink in what an honor it all was until we were walking back to the station afterwards. We’d actually been in the paddock, seen an F1 car up close and naked too (bodywork removed, engine in show!). As our new friend said to the engineers we were some “friends in the right place at the right time”. An amazing experience neither of us will ever forget.

Judging by the championship situation at the moment (two drivers on the same points), the awesome track that is Suzuka which never fails to entertain and the fantastic build up we’ve had, the race itself tomorrow is going to be mind blowing, even if we have no idea who’s won until the chequered flag is waved!

Check out our amazing pit side photos in our Japan photo album

Post your insanely jealous comments below!