The writer is a driver who has had a “European school” but, having had the privilege of competing in IndyCar too, knows well the differences between the two different sports car realities.
Luca Filippi
Photo by: WTCR
Today I would like to focus on one of these American aspects: Spotting.
The spotter is one of the 2 people who talks to the pilot on the radio, the other is the strategist who coordinates the strategy between the pit wall and the pilot.
The first talks continuously with the driver, but there is no dialogue for the driver, they just listen to advice without replying, concentrating on driving.
Indycar spotters often have a small stand dedicated to them which must have the following characteristics: guarantee excellent radio reception on the entire racetrack, have the widest possible view of the circuit, in particular the view must be optimal on the starting line. departure and on the first corner: the 2 key points of starts and restarts.
Usually, therefore, they are positioned between the start and the entry of curve 1, at the highest possible point.
Patricio O’Ward, spotter of the Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet team
Photo by: Phillip Abbott / Motorsport Images
The spotter is usually a former driver, he does not necessarily have to have competed in very high level categories but must have a great racing experience, knowing how to read well the racing situations that usually occur, to communicate to the driver, quickly and clearly, information that can often save a race from potential disaster.
For example, the spotter is that person who on the radio at the 24h of Daytona, indicates if there has been a contact in turn 1 and, in that case, suggests whether to pass on the right or left side of the track to avoid it. In the ovals it indicates if and when someone is inside or outside while engaged at 230mph.
One thing I have always wondered is why in European motorsport a figure of this type is not used, which would certainly have a more limited application than the track engineer, but potentially crucial to avoid an accident that occurred in front of the driver. , or to better defend the position in hand-to-hand duels.
If, from my point of view, there had been a spotter in radio contact with Valtteri Bottas, on a grandstand between the start and turn 1 in Mexico, perhaps he could have indicated in time that he was leaving too much space on the left for Max Verstappen and it would help them defend themselves better.
You will object that he would not have had the time. And, instead, I think so because the spotter is always open on the radio: by saying “stay left”, quickly and clearly, perhaps he could allow Valtteri to cover the trajectory that then allowed Verstappen to pass.
Not only that, but the other spotters, communicating with their respective drivers, could have avoided the contacts that were further back in the group, involving Mick Schumacher and Yujki Tsunoda and the others. They probably didn’t have a clear view of where Bottas’ Mercedes was once hit by Daniel Ricciardo’s McLaren as there was a cloud of smoke in Turn 1.
I think that with today’s technology, with multitasking drivers who rarely answer “leave me alone I know what I’m doing”, much more support could be given to those sitting alone in the car, both to avoid accidents and to juggle better in intricate situations.
From a regulatory point of view, from the moment the race starts and the traffic lights go off, there are no restrictions on what can be communicated to the driver or not, so it can be done …
Luca Filippi
@LucaFilippiLF
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