AUSGP: Friday Notebook
Remember back to Bathurst last December when we mailed in a notebook entry every day? Well, why not do it again!
This is The Race Torque’s twist on motorsport coverage – all of the behind the scenes bits and pieces you don’t regularly see reported elsewhere.
It’s great to be back at Albert Park, enjoy the weekend.
Pack ’em in…
The event promoters have been banging on about the size of the crowd this weekend, and if Friday is anything to go by, it’s going to be phenomenal.
Today saw a genuine Saturday crowd – it was hard to move around the precinct, and the queues for food and facilities were significant.
Please pack your patience if you are coming on the weekend, it’s going to be large…
Push my buttons
Have you ever wondered what controls the various light boards positioned around the track?
Well, wonder no more!
These units not only tell the drivers what is happening on the road ahead, but also relay the messages to race control, and the TV compound for instant relay to the on-screen graphics.
Super Stylin
Why have a corporate box overlooking the race track, when you can entertain your guests on a pontoon floating in the lake?
Where would you rather spend your race weekend?
Putting an effort in
With grandstands sold out on the weekend, spectators at Albert Park are innovating.
Don’t tell the GP Corp, because they will probably sell tickets for this park gym equipment next year…
Doing it for the ‘Gram
More punters absolutely having a red hot Aussie go at getting that special memory.
Would you lend a hand to a mate like this?
Pirelli Spectators
Have you ever been one of those people who drops their car off at the tyre shop for a new set of boots, and you just have to watch the poor lads do their work?
If so, this is an absolute treat: Pirelli have installed a glass wall on the side of their F1 tyre fitting compound, giving fans an insight into the tyre preparation task for the weekend.
Lawn Bowls
Fun fact – adjacent to turn one is the Middle Park Bowling Club.
By our reckoning, Albert Park and the Victoria Park track in Adelaide are the only two Grand Prix circuits complete with lawn bowl greens.
Are there any others? Hit us up on the socials @theracetorque with your expert insight.
What’s inside stuff
If you’ve ever wondered what is inside of the F1-spec Tecpro Barriers – here it is.
Following some Thursday carnage, the walls at turn five produced the above foamy mess…
Q: What’s another name for a Formula 1 nerd?
A: A Race Cube
Meme
“Wait, that’s not a meme!”
“I see you’ve played memey-photo before…”
The pop-up lobster restaurant on the Albert Park infield is called Pinchy’s.
You cannot make this stuff up…
Mark Walker (administrator)
A vastly experienced Motorsport Public Relations operator, journalist, commentator and photographer, Mark brings his unique angle to The Race Torque in both words and imagery. As well as serving as our key photographer on the ground at major events around Australia (and overseas), Walker will often chime in with his unique and pin-point sharp viewpoint of the racing world via the keyboard too.
