Friday

Friday is a day off in Monte Carlo. Well, for some.

The mega-rich might pick up anchor and head across to St Tropez for the day. Sponsors will entertain guests and conduct some business over a cocktail or three. Some lucky drivers might fit in a round of golf, while others fulfil marketing commitments at the race everyone wants to come to.

But, for hard-working core of Panasonic Toyota Racing it is another day at work, albeit in a more relaxed atmosphere.

Team manager Richard Cregan explains: "What we would have done on the Friday evening until late -- the changeover of the engine and the rear end -- we do that during the day today. It means that we can check the cars over for longer and it gives us a bit more breathing space. The guys could also get back to the hotel a bit earlier on Thursday night and then again tonight.

"Logistically Monte Carlo is not as bad as it used to be when we had the old, smaller pit garages. It's much, much better but there can still be issues transporting things back and forwards. But, whereas before you were back and forwards all the time, now you do one or two transports a day to the truck. In between the sessions we have a quad bike with a trailer and it just goes over and picks up stuff from the trucks and comes back, but most of the spares are actually here in the pitlane. Most of the time it's just wheels and fuel."

Meetings and technical debriefs now take place in space above the pitlane garages.

"You have to say, the facilities they have put in place are really good," Cregan adds. "Everything done in the trucks at normal European races is done upstairs in the pitlane. To a large extent it's like an overseas event once it has begun. I think the biggest issue now is that you still have the motorhomes down in the paddock and all the guys working in the pitlane, so you are always moving people up and down.

"During the sessions the catering girls bring food up and the crew have their lunch up here. But people still go missing! Sometimes that's a nightmare, plus the fact that normal radio communication here is difficult and mobile phones don't always have a reception. So the communications side of things is probably the biggest challenge. The second one is that because we are located right in the centre of the track, the guys never have a quiet minute. There is always something going on.

"I think that if you tried to do everything in three days, like a normal event, it would be too much. Friday gives you a bit of peace and quiet and some time to yourself. During the lunchtime the guys can eat, go and have a look at the boats and chill out a little bit. That's a luxury they don't normally get, and they appreciate it."