The logistics of Krohn Racing
The Krohn Racing team is one of two American teams (with Starworks Motorsports) racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship. With just one race of the series on their own continent, the logistics manager performs a vital function for the smooth running of the season. Here is a quick tour behind the scenes …
Moving a team of 21 people and six tonnes of equipment has to be well planned. Visas and travel documents need to be sought for team members of various nationalities (procedures vary from country to country) before booking airline tickets. The Ferrari F458 Italia that is entered in the LMGTE Am class, also travels by air with two crates of tools and spare parts for the summer campaign in Europe. Clothing for crew members is shipped in cylindrical drum bags that sit inside the race wheels for the sea freight shipment, that also includes the remainder of the team's pit and garage equipment and spare parts.
The ship left the east coast of the United States on the 30th March 30 and docked in England on the 16th April, with Silverstone as the final destination, where the materials were reunited with the air cargo. The team, who are based in Braselton, close to the Road Atlanta circuit, will use Silverstone as a logistical base for the races at Spa, Silverstone and Le Mans, the materials returning across the Atlantic once the season is over.
Personnel meanwhile, fly home between events, including the second half of the season when the calendar is accelerating. They spend a few days with family before heading back to the airport for a flight that will last anything between ten and eighteen hours.
Despite jet lag, mechanics, engineers and press officer are busy immediately on arrival to be ready for the first practice sessions: two and a half days of work are needed to set up the pit equipment and prepare the car, and break-down is done in a day and a half. A catering service keeps the team well fed at the circuit.
During the WEC summer schedule break (mid-June to late August) between the Le Mans 24 Hours and 6 Hours of Silverstone, Krohn Racing crew members will work on the 2013 Grand-Am Daytona Prototype and possibly participate in some Grand-Am races with the DP car. Soon, the Krohn Racing team will pack their bags for the Belgian Ardennes and 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship on the 5th May.
Cecile Bonardel (Source: Team press release)
Photo: SEBRING (FLORIDA, USA), Sebring, 12 Hours of Sebring, Saturday, March 17, 2012, RACE. The race season of the Krohn Racing team in the FIA World Endurance Championship requires flawless logistics.