Celebrities feel the heat as pit crew team

2010/09/17
Noel Achariam

SEPANG: It was a chance of a lifetime for several celebrities and media members who were invited to participate in the Johnnie Walker Pit Crew Experience at the Sepang International Circuit recently.

The event saw four teams of six competitors in two sessions take over the Sepang International circuit to become team managers, coordinators, data and race engineers and mechanics.

Each team worked with veteran and new drivers to run the specially engineered Johnnie Walker race cars in a 10-lap race with four pit stop challenges — from the garage to the grid and past the chequered flag.
Ccelebrities such as artiste extraordinaire Reshmonu, TV host Henry Golding, model Chermaine Poo, 8TV Quickie host Megan Tan, DJ Roshan and TV host Owen Yap were the privileged few to experience the adrenaline-pumping stint.

Both teams were pitted against each other in an high octane battle for the top spot.

Team members got to feel the heat radiating from a running engine while changing a 11kg tyre and checking the wing setting of the car, all in a matter of seconds.
Reshmonu, who was part of the JW1 team, said that it was a exciting experience to be part of the pit crew and to follow the action from the garage to the grid.

“It was difficult at first, but we managed to pull through.

“Even though we did not win the race, we won the overall championship. It was great teamwork that won us the silverware,” he said.
Throughout the contest the two teams were marked on a points system, and the team adjudicator observed all actions and listened to team conversations to accurately score each team’s efforts.

The teams were given 30 minutes to familiarise themselves with the equipment and surroundings at the garage to ensure the car was set up at the optimum level for free practice, to manage the qualification, to be prepared for fuel requirements and good pit stop strategy, and to handle all pit stops and the final garage packing.

During the course of the race, the pit crew had to solve various problems normally associated with a race team.

There was also a pit stop challenge which was won by JW1 team.

Riche Monde Malaysia (Diageo Brands) marketing director Ashu Kaul said that it’s not just about the speed or being the first one to across the line.

“The most important thing is staying in control, making smart decisions, ensuring the safety of the driver and the team by observing the sporting and technical regulations.

“The world of racing is sophisticated, stylish and elite, which makes Johnnie Walker the perfect track-side partner.

“In the Johnnie Walker Pit Crew Experience, the teams experienced the kind of pressure and decisions that a real race team would face and learnt what it took to succeed on the track,” he said.

Twenty-four lucky consumers also got a chance to take part in the Johnnie Walker virtual pit crew challenge via www.facebook.com/johnniewalkermalaysia.

Those who clocked in the fastest times won a chance to step inside the Black Circuit for the Johnnie Walker Pit Crew Experience.

The Pit Crew Experience showed that even in the world’s most glamorous sport, staying in control, precision, passion and teamwork remain paramount.

It served as a reminder to party-goers to live life responsibly by using the public transport or nominating a designated driver after a late night out.