The run-up to the Oz GP weekend

By Scuderia Toro Rosso
March 15 2007

A busy first day "back at school" for our driving duo. Tonio and Scott, along with the other drivers, had to go through the usual pre-season ritual of proving to the officials that they can get out of their cars in double quick time. Or to be more precise, in under 5 seconds.

Then they had to prove that, having removed the steering wheel, essential for vacating the cramped confines of the cockpit, they can get out and refit the wheel in under 10 seconds. In the old days, drivers had the annoying tendancy of crashing, getting out of the car in a very bad mood and tossing the steering wheel into the crowd. This made life very difficult for track marshals when it came to pushing the car out of the way. It was also rather expensive for the team!

Another first day of the season requirement is the weigh-in as drivers are weighed so that the actual weight of the car can be calculated when they are weighed at the end of qualifying and the race. Like shy girls, it seems that our two boys didn't want to reveal how many kilos they were, but one can assume their new cropped haircuts must have saved them a few grammes.

Always ready to please their fans wherever they go in the world, Tonio and Scott also trotted down to the autograph area this afternoon and spent twenty minutes signing and chatting with the crowds. And very smart they looked too, with their new "gladitorial" team kit, featuring a gold shoulder and gold trainers. The entire team wears these, so sunglasses are now absolutely essential to deal with the glare from the mechanic's feet!

Watch out for the first sign of rain as we have learnt that the Scuderia Toro Rosso rain coat is completely gold. They will look a right shower dressed like that!