We take a look behind the scenes at Mahindra Racing with its chief mechanic, Paul Willett, as the team prepares for an unprecedented nine-day, six-race finale to the 2019/20 Formula E campaign set for Berlin's Tempelhof Airport on August 5.
Teams, drivers and organisers alike will be subject to a unique set of circumstances as Formula E readies up for a sprint finish to 2019/20, with a half-season taking place in little over a week - surely the most intense race meeting in modern motorsport history.
Fronting-up to the workload will be Mahindra Racing’s chief mechanic, Paul Willett, who knows a thing or two about working long hours after coming to the all-electric street racing series from an endurance sportscar team.
READ MORE: Head to mahindraracing.com for more from the team ahead of Berlin
He’s the man who is responsible for ensuring that he and his crew strip down, inspect and then prepare the cars after they recently arrived back home to Mahindra headquarters.
“The freight landed back on our doorstep at the beginning of June,” says Willett in a rare ten-minute break from his demanding schedule.
“We were conscious that some moisture could have got in to the freight boxes and potentially done small amounts of damage, so we went through everything with a fine-tooth comb to make sure no gremlins crept in as corrosion can have a detrimental effect.”
Every component, nut and bolt has been checked and replaced if showing any signs of wear or corrosion from its enforced 11-week hibernation in Valencia.
The new procedures that Formula E teams will have to adhere to in Berlin are detailed and necessary. No chances will be taken, and all staff are to receive detailed guidelines and training before travelling to Germany.
Willett has a new role, working in conjunction with team manager David Clarke to ensure all the health and safety protocols are followed.
“The whole team realises that these procedures are for everyone's benefit in the championship and the importance of creating the right impression throughout,” says Willett.
“All it takes is one person not to comply to the regulations, and it can have dramatic effects on the team from a sporting side and of course from a health perspective as well.
“We're pushing really hard so that all our team members understand fully before we leave our base that we have every little detail nailed down.
“Now, we have got the time to work hard in the workshop so that when we get to Berlin, it's a case of ticking the boxes and keeping vigilant on everything. That's all in the preparation that is taking place now.”
As well as the human resource element to the job, Willett will again be on top of the car preparation - a source of great pride for the whole Mahindra team.
“With six races, the level of organisation on preparation and spare parts will be immensely important,” confirms Willett. “We have a stock of spares and then there are some available at the track through the suppliers (Spark Racing Technology).
“(Ready made-up) race rear-ends are put through dyno tests before we go so we can fully sign off all of them and have a good level of stock ourselves.
"There is one big unknown though of course; the dreaded damage to cars in the heat of combat which could well affect all the teams to some degree over the nine days.
“Again, you just have to be prepared and know that, to whatever level it occurs, it is our job to fix it and prepare for every eventuality."
Willett’s job description doesn't end there, though, in Berlin. He is also helping map out details and plans for all-important development and testing which is taking place right now, and in the lead up to the return to Tempelhof.
“Formula E is kind of unique in that you usually have a concurrent testing programme with the race activity,” he says.
“This is particularly hectic this year with the pandemic having made such an impact, but we will get everything done to the highest level because this is motorsport and this is what we do.”