Behind the Scenes at a Supercars Race
The Supercars Championship season races on to its ninth event as teams and drivers alike prepare for the Sandown SuperSprint.
Walkinshaw Andretti United, our team partner this season, is looking for an even stronger showing after their two podium finishes in the previous event at The Bend.
While most of the fanfare goes to the drivers, cars and high-octane racing, there are people who are working behind the scenes to organise the equipment and ensure the team is on the right track, wherever the event may be.
To know more about what goes on behind the scenes, we caught up with Anthony McDonald, Team Manager of Walkinshaw Andretti United.
What’s your title and role with Walkinshaw Andretti United?
I’m the Team Manager of Walkinshaw Andretti United, which means it’s my responsibility to oversee the crew, the day-to-day functions of the team, and all work on the cars at the track.
How long have you been with Walkinshaw Andretti United?
I started with the team in June 2003, and it’s been 19 race seasons.
What does a typical work day look like for you?
A typical day at the track involves getting there early to make sure the cars are ready, run up and complete for the first session of the day. Then I ensure all the changes are made during and post-session that the engineers require. Each night, we service the cars to make sure they are ready to go the next day – so making sure everyone is working through the list of jobs that need to be done is important.
How does the team travel between events?
We’re based out of Clayton in Melbourne, so travelling to and from events is a big part of what we do. Most of the team will fly to each interstate round mid-week, but we have to take into consideration that our truck takes longer to arrive in most rounds. So ensuring everything is planned out in regards to what time the truck leaves and truck arrives back post-race is really important. For example: for rounds like Darwin, the truck will leave the weekend before the event, and won’t get back until four or five days after the race.
What’s the typical set up process upon arrival at a Supercars event?
First thing we do is unpack everything we need out of the truck, before setting up the garage. It takes a full day to set everything up. There’s a lot that goes into it – we set the walling up in the garage, and mechanics set their work areas up. This includes what we call the patch, which is the scale system that cars get set up on. There are also things like TVs and all the back of house stuff to make our garage as warm and inviting of an environment as possible.
What are you typically looking out for during a Supercars race?
During the race, my role is to lead the pit crew team. I work with the engineers to ensure the crew know when we’re pitting, how many tyres we’re changing or how much fuel we’re putting in and anything else we need. If there’s an accident during the race and the cars get damaged, I need to make sure everyone has what they need to do their job, as well as make sure we’re going to make it back out in time.
What’s the typical process when departing from a Supercars event?
Once the final race is complete, we go straight to pack up mode and get everything packed into the truck. It’s usually a three-to-four-hour process to pack up when all goes to plan, with the cars one of the last things to be packed away.
How do you ensure that your team stays ahead of the competition?
We make sure we do everything to the best of our ability. Attention to detail is critical in motorsport, so making sure everything is done properly despite the time pressure around us is essential.
What’s the hardest part about your role with Walkinshaw Andretti United?
Motorsport involves long hours, a lot of time away from home and a lot of pressure – so that’s always something we have to take into consideration. Days at the track are extremely long, and we’re away from our families a lot. It’s a big sacrifice from not only us, but the people at home as well.
What’s the best part about your role with Walkinshaw Andretti United?`
Winning as a team. When you know you’ve all done your job and it results in a win, it’s a great feeling. It’s really special to share it with so many people who have contributed as well.
What’s your title and role with Walkinshaw Andretti United?
I’m the Team Manager of Walkinshaw Andretti United, which means it’s my responsibility to oversee the crew, the day-to-day functions of the team, and all work on the cars at the track.
How long have you been with Walkinshaw Andretti United?
I started with the team in June 2003, and it’s been 19 race seasons.
What does a typical work day look like for you?
A typical day at the track involves getting there early to make sure the cars are ready, run up and complete for the first session of the day. Then I ensure all the changes are made during and post-session that the engineers require. Each night, we service the cars to make sure they are ready to go the next day – so making sure everyone is working through the list of jobs that need to be done is important.
How does the team travel between events?
We’re based out of Clayton in Melbourne, so travelling to and from events is a big part of what we do. Most of the team will fly to each interstate round mid-week, but we have to take into consideration that our truck takes longer to arrive in most rounds. So ensuring everything is planned out in regards to what time the truck leaves and truck arrives back post-race is really important. For example: for rounds like Darwin, the truck will leave the weekend before the event, and won’t get back until four or five days after the race.
What’s the typical set up process upon arrival at a Supercars event?
First thing we do is unpack everything we need out of the truck, before setting up the garage. It takes a full day to set everything up. There’s a lot that goes into it – we set the walling up in the garage, and mechanics set their work areas up. This includes what we call the patch, which is the scale system that cars get set up on. There are also things like TVs and all the back of house stuff to make our garage as warm and inviting of an environment as possible.
What are you typically looking out for during a Supercars race?
During the race, my role is to lead the pit crew team. I work with the engineers to ensure the crew know when we’re pitting, how many tyres we’re changing or how much fuel we’re putting in and anything else we need. If there’s an accident during the race and the cars get damaged, I need to make sure everyone has what they need to do their job, as well as make sure we’re going to make it back out in time.
What’s the typical process when departing from a Supercars event?
Once the final race is complete, we go straight to pack up mode and get everything packed into the truck. It’s usually a three-to-four-hour process to pack up when all goes to plan, with the cars one of the last things to be packed away.
How do you ensure that your team stays ahead of the competition?
We make sure we do everything to the best of our ability. Attention to detail is critical in motorsport, so making sure everything is done properly despite the time pressure around us is essential.
What’s the hardest part about your role with Walkinshaw Andretti United?
Motorsport involves long hours, a lot of time away from home and a lot of pressure – so that’s always something we have to take into consideration. Days at the track are extremely long, and we’re away from our families a lot. It’s a big sacrifice from not only us, but the people at home as well.
What’s the best part about your role with Walkinshaw Andretti United?`
Winning as a team. When you know you’ve all done your job and it results in a win, it’s a great feeling. It’s really special to share it with so many people who have contributed as well.
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