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- Rebecca Lee explains her key race-day role ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2024 on Sunday
ABU DHABI: After making history by becoming the FIA鈥檚 first female official F1 starter last year, Rebecca Lee is getting in gear for her crucial role at Yas Marina Circuit.
The Briton will be responsible for starting the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday, but says she doesn鈥檛 feel fazed or pressured by the fact that millions of people are watching her do her job as the clock ticks down to lights out. 鈥淚 feel confident and comfortable with what I do,鈥� she said.
鈥淥f course, when I鈥檓 up there during the start process, you do feel the adrenaline, but it鈥檚 actually a good feeling 鈥� you feel a good vibe inside.
鈥淥bviously, I鈥檓 always really cautious and really aware, because the last thing I want is an incident to happen or for anybody to get hurt. And I never actually think about it, but I don鈥檛 really think in depth about who鈥檚 watching.鈥�
Lee started her career in the transport industry, and after experiencing life in the paddock, got the motorsport bug. Following a spell as starter for the FIA鈥檚 F2 and F3 series, she made the move to F1 in September last year, and shares exactly what her role involves on race weekend.
鈥淎s the FIA race starter, I鈥檓 responsible for making sure that we deploy the drivers safely and compliantly each weekend. So for that, I need to ensure that I鈥檓 up-to-date with the regulations so that we鈥檙e operating within the correct parameters. I need to make myself aware each weekend of any risks, making sure that I鈥檓 being diligent so there鈥檚 no breach of hazard risks or health and safety. And, of course, in the run-up to the weekend, I鈥檝e got a lot of tests and checks to do on the hardware and software to ensure that everything鈥檚 going to operate as it should on the actual day.鈥�
Once the lights go out in Abu Dhabi, Lee will remain in the gantry for one of the busiest points throughout the race 鈥� the run from the start line into turn 1 and the first couple of laps. 鈥淚鈥檒l stay up there just in case there鈥檚 any issues and Race Control are quite busy during that time. So if we need to red flag, I鈥檓 already there ready and waiting and I can red flag from the gantry 鈥� they won鈥檛 have to do it from Race Control.鈥�
After a couple of laps, she will hand the control panel back to Race Control and then listen to the Race Control communications channel for the remainder of the race. 鈥淚f we鈥檝e got any red flags during that time, I鈥檒l be back up there for the restarts, whether that is rolling or standing starts. Then about seven laps from the end, I鈥檒l be getting ready to do the chequered flag.鈥�
Lee credits teamwork as critical to her success. 鈥淚 work with every department within the FIA single-seater sector and that means I work with a lot of people. That鈥檚 one of my favorite parts about the job because I couldn鈥檛 physically do it without the great people that I鈥檝e got around me,鈥� she said.
鈥淲e all bring something to the team and everyone needs to have their input to make everything work as successfully as it does.鈥�
Since joining the FIA, Lee has received a lot of messages from people, particularly females, asking for advice on how to enter the world of motorsport.
She said: 鈥淚 would say it鈥檚 important to listen to people and ask people their stories, and be open to advice; set a plan and work hard for it until you get exactly where you want to be. I wasn鈥檛 very academic but I鈥檓 a hard worker and I鈥檓 also very good with my hands as well.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not always about being book smart 鈥� you can also be streetwise and get very far without being academic. Do your own research and whatever you do, make sure that you do it with integrity and a positive mindset, which always goes a long way.鈥�