iWitness in Japan: Saturday

Posted on Sunday 04 Oct 2009 and tagged with iwitness, japan, suzuka.

A number of AT&T Williams mechanics are testing new socks this weekend in an effort to stop their feet sweating. These ‘Foot Gloves’ have little fingers for each toe and if they’re deemed to be effective (bringing about a general reduction in Athlete’s Foot?) everyone in the race team will adopt them for next year.

The wireless speakers used to broadcast driver interviews in the AT&T Williams hospitality area wouldn’t work yesterday. Initially we were told that there were no available frequencies, but we’ve since discovered that the plugs in the unit are only 110 volts and the speakers need 240 volts. Doh!

Get a birthday cake to the AT&T Williams hospitality area now! Cristian Mendez, our hospitality manager, celebrated his 28th birthday yesterday – but he forgot to mention it to anyone. Belated happy birthday, big guy, and we promise not to forget next year.

The bags under the eyes of most people in the Suzuka paddock are a telltale sign that we’re in Japan. The jetlag is gruelling here, but it’s not Claire Williams’ biggest problem. Our communications guru can’t sleep because she thinks her hotel, the Loisir in Yokkaichi, is haunted. “I’m convinced that something big and scary is going to come into my room in the middle of the night,” she says. This, despite watching Ghost Busters en route to the race…