While the drivers lap up the glory, in motorsport, a whole team is required to get a car across the finish line first – and amongst the myriad men and women working tirelessly behind-the-scenes, those involved in planning and logistics are crucial to success.
The latest instalment of the FIA World Endurance Championship’s new YouTube docuseries, ‘Beyond the Track’ – out today – delves into this often unexplored area, as Ferrari AF Corse Logistics Manager, Domenico D’Ignazio, offers an insight into his vital role as conductor of the orchestra.
“Everything must be perfect,” comments reigning world champion, Alessandro Pier Guidi. “You cannot be late.” It is the job of D’Ignazio to ensure that is the case, from coordinating the flow of people, cars and equipment to on-site set-up, guaranteeing that everything is exactly where it should be, when it should be.
From handling air and sea freight arrangements to flight delays, paddock layouts and driver schedules, the Italian’s responsibilities require maximum focus and the capacity to react rapidly and efficiently to ever-changing circumstances.
“Ferrari is an amazing brand with a huge history,” D’Ignazio acknowledges. “It’s great to be a part of that, but it’s also challenging. The standards are really high, and excellence is just the baseline.”
Tasked with managing the agenda and commitments of no fewer than 17 Ferrari factory drivers, the ability to establish respectful relationships, understand each of their personalities and forge strong connections is essential, he explains.
Once, D’Ignazio recalls, he even needed to track down a driver who was missing ahead of the start of his stint at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, eventually locating him asleep in his RV!
“Domenico is always positive and always calm,” observes colleague, Angelo Grossi. “The way he approaches bad moments and the way he approaches winning moments is always balanced. Everything that I know, I’ve learned from Domenico.”
But…
“First things first,” D’Ignazio insists. “Priority for Italians – coffee.”
So brew up, settle down and tune in...
Watch FIA WEC live or on-demand via the official FIA WEC TV app – your full-access pass to the FIA World Endurance Championship including the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans. Don’t miss a moment. For further information, check out the app.
