The Day I Wasn’t Driving

This weekend I arrived at Silverstone National Circuit for a test day. The difference this time was that I wasn’t there to drive — I was there working as a mechanic.

The cars in the garage.

Mechanicing is something I’ve done before, but this time it was slightly different. Among the cars we were running was the Royale RP21, the same car I had raced at the Formula Ford Festival and the Walter Hayes. Watching someone else drive a car you’ve raced and cared about is a strange feeling.

During the week leading up to the test it hadn’t really bothered me that I wasn’t driving. I knew my opportunity to get out in the Reynard would come in the coming weeks. Even working on the RP21 in the workshop didn’t feel unusual.

But that changed when the cars rolled out of the garage at Silverstone and headed down the pitlane.

Suddenly it hit me.

I was still standing in the garage while the car I had raced and worked on the previous season drove away without me in it.

At first it was frustrating. Sitting on the pitwall watching the cars go by wasn’t easy. I wanted to be in the car. I needed to be behind the wheel. I was last here for the Walter Hayes, and now I was just standing on the pitwall.

Two of my rivals were out too, both in new cars. That nagged at me as well.

However, rather than focus on that frustration, I shifted my mindset and treated the day as a learning opportunity.

If I wasn’t driving, then I would observe.

I began watching how each driver prepared themselves before going out on track. Some climbed into the car early and sat quietly, getting settled. Others waited until the very last moment before strapping in. It was interesting to see the different approaches.

Once they were on track I focused on how they drove. Some built their pace slowly while others pushed almost immediately. When they came back in I listened carefully to their feedback and how they described the session.

By comparing how they prepared before going out with how they performed on track, you begin to notice small differences in approach and mindset.

At the same time I was enjoying the mechanic side of the day.

Helping prepare the cars to go out — checking tyre pressures, making sure drivers were comfortable in their seats, and ensuring everything was ready for the session — gives you a different perspective on how the whole team operates.

There is a lot happening in a garage before a car even reaches the track.

Even though I wasn’t driving, the day ended up being very valuable. Working as part of the team gave me a better understanding of what the mechanics are doing and how important clear communication is between driver and team.

Observing other drivers also gave me a lot to think about in terms of preparation and approach before a session.

Sometimes stepping back from driving and watching everything around you can teach you just as much.

And every lesson you take away becomes something you can apply the next time you pull the visor down.

Photos by Grace Bates