Speeding around the race track at top speed is not just about expert driving skills. The driver may be in the hot seat, but behind them is a whole race crew of experts working together like a well-oiled machine! Every job on a racing crew is just as important as the last, as the team works together to be the first past the finish line. From safety to engine upgrades that keep the race car running smoothly at top speed, there’s a lot to consider if a racing team wants to get inside the winner’s circle.
So pull out your binoculars, and let’s slow things down for a closer look!
1. Team Principal
Everyone knows the race car driver, but have you ever heard of the Team Principal? Behind every great racing crew is a great Team Principal. Like the beating heart of the team, they have many important responsibilities behind the scenes way before race day. In preparation for a race, the Team Principal does it all!
Overall, Team Principals helps to manage the racing team, attract sponsors, and coordinate car parts with the factory. As leaders, they are responsible for building the right team around the driver… and even choosing the driver! Uniting the right race crew takes skill and tact, as they often need to consider the personality of their team as much as their qualifications. While racing at top speeds, there’s not much room for mistakes. In the end, the Team Principal sets the culture below them and rallies the crew together!
2. Race Engineer
If a Team Principal has done a good job by hiring the right team members, they might be the ones taking a back seat on race day. As a middleman, the Race Engineer works both behind the scenes and front and center on race day. They hold a unique role on the team because they require both an engineering background and people skills. Their job centers around the mechanics of the race car while also being able to give important information directly to the driver during the race.
3. Mechanics
Like regular car mechanics, Race Mechanics fulfill an important job on a racing crew. Race car mechanics are responsible for the race car’s maintenance and repairs. Before a race, this often includes altering their team’s car with engine enhancements to improve performance. On race day, they need to be on-site and ready to make emergency repairs at any moment!
4. Driver
Last (but definitely not least) is the Race Car Driver, of course! These professional athletes act as the face of the team as a whole. On the surface, their job may seem simple enough: maneuver around the track and drive as fast as possible. But there’s much more to their driving skills than meets the eye! A race car driver’s job requires a huge amount of focus, concentration, and mental endurance. As racing pros, they need to perfect their driving skills and know the track inside out.
Every second counts! The difference between winning and losing comes down to teeny-tiny differences in driving ability. To the untrained eye, these differences can be hard to notice at the beginning of a race, but they add up slowly in fractions of time increments. As the course progresses, for the best drivers, these small differences will give some the edge over others! Race car drivers are often bombarded with information from engineers and mechanics, and to be successful they also need to know how to filter out irrelevant information that comes their way.
What’s your little one’s favorite member of the racing crew? Let us know on social media @driventoys. And don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for exciting updates and promotions! Roll into a world of endless possibilities with DRIVEN because the crew depends on you.