A Grand Prix in numbers!

There are just three days to go before the first Grand Prix of the 2007 season, and as the anticipation builds among fans around the world, here are some important stats about the opening race of the year…

For the uninitiated, a Grand Prix weekend probably looks like it’s a mere question of two cars completing a set number of laps on Sunday afternoon. The reality, though, is somewhat different… and a bit more complicated!

A Grand Prix may involve two race drivers, but it also represents nearly 100 people who travel round the world between March and October. For each stage of the adventure, they complete thousands of air miles – or on the road. In total, they visit four of the five continents.

A Grand Prix weekend involves three complete R27 chassis, and one spare in case any of the complete cars are damaged in an accident. At each race, the ING Renault F1 Team takes around 30 tonnes of equipment, and 17,000 components – of which some are sent by sea freight several months in advance, with the rest (chassis, engines, car components and sensitive equipment) following by air freight for flyaway races outside Europe – or in the team’s 11 trucks for the European races. It’s quite a challenge in logistical terms!

Throughout a season, the ING Renault F1 Team will welcome nearly 4,000 guests and sponsors, which means an average of some 235 per event. The motorhome, located in the paddock behind the garages, runs flat out throughout the four days of the race weekend (Thursday to Sunday) to welcome and feed the team and its guests. Nearly 800 meals are served during each race weekend!

A Grand Prix may boil down to those two cars in the main event on Sunday afternoon, but most of all, it’s a team of people from Enstone and Viry, giving their all to ensure the two cars perform to their maximum in motorsport’s premier category.