Race Control – guaranteeing a level playing field

Race Control is situated in the grandstand opposite the track on which more than thirty single-seaters with engines roaring are lined up. Thus, it is difficult to imagine that it is in a muted, discreet ambience that people monitor the on-track activities in a serious, relaxed manner. This is Race Control, an impenetrable bastion of the World Series by Renault.

In the building overlooking the pits on the Hungaroring, the Race Control room exudes concentration. The people present have their eyes glued to the forty TV monitor screens. Thanks to this equipment, the Race Control team can see everything going on at each corner of the circuit as well as on the pit lane.

The pressure drops off after the weekend’s events. “Don’t believe that we only work during the races,” explains Pierre Delettre, the Clerk of the Course at all the World Series by Renault meetings. “We do a lot of work beforehand with the circuit management. The way things are done differs from one country to another. To guarantee a level playing field in the championships, we have to ensure the application of the rules from one end of the season to the other. The local installations must measure up to the standards of the World Series by Renault.”

They have to be vigilant during the race days which last from 09h00 till 19h00 without interruption. “At all the races – in addition to the on-track shows – we look after the start procedure, the display of the flags and the deployment of the safety car. We also play a major role in the investigation of incidents. We’re a kind of prosecutor; we use the video images recorded by Race Control, the broadcasted images, the data from the ultra-efficient Alkamel timing system, as well as the data acquisition systems. We carry out the investigation and suggest a penalty, which goes to the Stewards of the Meeting who act as judges and hear the parties involved. Race Control can also apply automatic sanctions, which are not linked to the interpretation of the rules.”

However, despite his role as prosecutor, the Clerk of the Course is appreciated by the players in the World Series by Renault. “There have been a few tense moments, but I’ve always had good relations with the drivers and team managers who all come and say hello to me when I walk through the paddock.”

He is also there to apply the rules and his decisions are final for good reasons. “The FR. 2.0 and the FR 3.5 championships are like apprenticeship schools for racing. The drivers have to learn the ropes. In the FR 3.5 Series you have to continue their education, as drivers evolve very quickly. I think of Albert Costa for example who I had to warn in the Renault 3.5 Series. Since then he’s reacted very well. We’re intransigent as we’re preparing them for Formula 1, in which their attitude has to be beyond reproach.”

Problems, though, are relatively rare, and in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, the final hurdle before Formula 1, the drivers generally respect the regulations. “The 2011 field is excellent in terms of performance, and above all in their attitude. Since the start of the season the drivers have been beyond reproach. I can’t remember such a good year. They’ve proved that you can fight great duels without making contact. Historically, we’ve never had problem with the best drivers. We never saw Kubica or Vettel. The ones we see the most are those who drive beyond their abilities.” 

If the Clerk of the Course uses the first person plural so often it’s because his job can only be done through team work. “It’s obvious that it’s team work with the time keepers, the technical staff and all the people involved. It’s a role that demands a lot of collaboration and good communication!”