The mechanics are assigned the task of getting the car ready for the race and working on it during the competition. Their job can go from simple body or aerodynamic repairs when the car runs off the track or brushes up against another competing car to extensive repairs like changing the gearbox.
The mechanic staff performs a make-or-break job during the race: the pit stops. There is an old adage that states “the Le Mans 24 Hours is won on the track and lost in the pits.” Specially trained, each mechanic carries out a specific task:
- 1 mechanic is in charge of the fire extinguisher from the time the car enters and until its leaves the pit;
- 2 mechanics refuel the car, one holds the hose while the other opens and closes the valve;
- 4 mechanics clean the car: optics, windshield, rearview mirrors, number plate, air ducts, radiators, cameras…
- 4 mechanics change the wheels: to remove and replace tires, the four mechanics can only use one wheel gun at a time, and only a maximum of two mechanics are allowed to change a tire, which means that only one activates it at any given time. The operation requires full command of the change-over process and top physical condition because a wheel weighs 20 kg and a gun 6 kg!
- cockpit operators help pilots in and out of the car;
- technicians check treads, pressure and brake wear and tear.
