PremiAir Racing: The Team Behind the Scenes

When you look at a KFC chip, it might look simple, but there’s a secret salt mix behind it making it the perfect chip. Much like Supercars, there’s a mixture of elements that contribute to race day.

We’d compare it to an AFL or NRL team. There is a huge crew of people working hard behind the scenes. But instead of a physiotherapist working on a tight hammy, it’s a race engineer working on tyres.

To dig further into our partnership with PremiAir Racing, we spoke to some of the legends in the crew behind the drivers.

Name

Hayley Tyrell

How long have you worked for PremiAir Racing?

I’ve been with the team since day one, which was February 2022.

What is your role on race day, and what does pre-race preparation entail for you?

I manage and host all partners and pit tours and manage the drivers and their schedules. On race day, I ensure all partners are ready for the event with tickets, on-track activation times, etc. I also ensure that:

• The team’s travel is confirmed.
• The team has the event schedule.
• The driver’s media schedule is confirmed.
• The team’s social media schedule is confirmed.

How does the Syzmik gear work for you in their role?

Most importantly for me, it’s very comfortable and stylish. The team always looks presentable, which is very important in our industry when representing partners and PremiAir Racing. The material is high quality and soft, which is important, especially when travelling. We have very long days on track, so it’s imperative to be comfortable whilst looking professional at all times, which we do in our Syzmik team uniform.

What is your favourite thing about your job?

Seeing guests’ smiles the first time they come to the track and when they’re learning about our sport. Also, the people I get to meet along the way.

Name
Richard Smith

How long have you worked for PremiAir Racing?
I’ve been with Premier Racing for 18 months.

What is your role on race day, and what does the pre-race preparation entail for you?
As the Digital Media Manager, I have a busy schedule on race day! It looks a little like this:
Race weekend strategy

• Align with the team's objectives for the weekend. This can range from celebrating a particular milestone, emphasising a sponsor partnership, or showcasing a technical development.
• Develop a content plan tailored for each day: Practice, Qualifying, Race Day.

Content development

• Collaborate with video and graphics teams to prepare engaging multimedia content.
• Prepare stories or features about drivers, the track's history, past races, or any interesting tech upgrades for the race weekend.
• Work on content pieces that showcase sponsors or technical partners.

Real-time coverage

• Plan how to cover the race in real-time: live feed on the website, stories on Instagram, live updates on Facebook, etc.
• Create templates for different scenarios, e.g., a driver setting the fastest lap, technical issues, or podium finishes.

Coordinate with broadcast partners

• Ensure that you have access to broadcast content, video clips, and highlights.
• Understand any restrictions on content usage given rights agreements.

Engage with fans

• Plan fan engagement activities like polls, quizzes, or contests.
• Prepare for fan content (photos, videos) that can be shared on official channels.

Scheduling

• Use tools to schedule posts, ensuring consistent communication.

Analytics

• Set up tracking metrics to evaluate the success of posts and engagement activities.
• Reflect on past races' data to understand what worked and what didn’t.

Liaise with the team

• Coordinate with the drivers, team principal, and other key figures for interviews, stories, or insights that can be shared.
• Get updates on last-minute developments or announcements that might influence the content strategy.

Crisis management

• Prepare statements or communication strategies for potential crises like accidents, technical failures, or controversies.

Mobile optimisation

• Given the global audience and different viewing devices, ensure content is optimised for mobile viewing.

Collaboration

• Collaborate with other departments like PR, sponsor relations, and technical teams for comprehensive coverage.

Rights and regulations

• Be clear about the Supercar’s digital media rights and ensure content adheres to any restrictions, especially regarding race footage.
• Once the race weekend starts, it is expected to be agile, making real-time decisions based on race developments. After each practice/qualifying/race session, analysing performance and refining strategies for the next session is crucial.

How does the Syzmik gear work for you in their role?
While Syzmik work gear is primarily designed for roles demanding physical labour and protective clothing, its emphasis on comfort directly contributes to productivity. Additionally, having our entire team don the same attire fosters a strong sense of unity and camaraderie.

What's a fun fact about you that your fellow colleagues might not know?
One fun fact that many of my colleagues might not know is that, despite working in high-end fashion, I once entered (and won!) a thrift store outfit challenge, creating a runway-worthy look for under $20.

What's your favourite way to celebrate a win on race day?
A shot of Benedictine liqueur!

What is your favourite thing about your job?
Being part of a team.

Name

Romy Mayer

How long have you worked for PremiAir Racing?

I’ve worked with PremiAir Racing since July 2023

What is your role on race day?

I’m the race engineer of Car 23. I’m responsible for the race car setup, which includes legalities and all mechanical settings on the car to achieve the best possible performance for a given racetrack. I’ll be analysing data to improve both the performance of the vehicle and the driver. Fuel strategy, tyre management and competitor strategy come into play during the race. I’m in constant radio communication with the race driver to ensure he is aware of what is happening on the track and how he and the car are performing.

What does the pre-race preparation entail for you?

Preparing for a race begins with analysing data and settings from the previous year and applying track-specific parameters to the race car settings. Tyre data, race car dynamics, session strategy and race driver performance are integral to race weekend preparation.

How does the Syzmik gear work for you in their role?

As we are racing in the heat in Darwin and the cold winter in Tailem Bend, Syzmik gear ensures we feel comfortable and can perform our best during long working days at the racetrack.

What's a fun fact about you that your fellow colleagues might not know?

As we spend a lot of time together, I think there aren’t many secrets left. I once crossed the Atlantic on a sailing boat and then wanted to become a boat delivery captain… not sure how I ended up as a Supercars race engineer!

What's your favourite way to celebrate a win on race day?

Champagneeeee!

What is your favourite thing about your job?

I love that you get feedback if you are doing a good job straight away. We make a change to the car in a session, and it goes faster the next lap; that’s the best. Winning obviously is nice as well.

Name

Geoffrey Slater

How long have you worked for PremiAir Racing?

I’ve been working for PremiAir Racing for almost a year.

What is your role on race day, and what does the pre-race preparation entail for you?

I’m the Head Engineer. My job is to ensure all things engineering are under control (including pre-event strategy analysis and car preparation).

How does the Syzmik gear work for you in their role?

Simple - it keeps me warm. I am perpetually cold, so anything to boost that is a bonus!

What's a fun fact about you that your fellow colleagues might not know?

I am an avid guitarist!

What is your favourite thing about your job?

The challenge of the job itself.

To check out our partnership with PremiAir Racing, head to our Instagram or follow PremiAir Racing for more updates.