In lieu of your regularly scheduled programming, I thought I would use today’s piece to give you a sense of just how crazy it is trying to get ready to attend my first Grand Prix as an official card-carrying member of the press. Since my accreditation approval came through a fortnight ago, I have looked a lot more like Edvard Munch’s The Scream than the byline photo I’m sure you all know and love. Not only are there airplane tickets and hotels to book in pretty short order, but there is so much more to think about that I’d never even considered.

Step 1 in my Grand Prix prep is probably pretty similar to a race team’s – lots of planning, lots of lists, and lots of equipment tests. Sure, they’ve got a lot more to organise and test, but the walls of my flat are now covered with Post-its listing all the things I must do before I go: arrange internet access at the circuit; organise a media visa; plan travel between the Manama hotel and Sakhir Circuit; call banks, mobile phone companies, and the like to make sure I’ll have access to money and a mobile while I’m away.

Step 2 is the more traditional holiday planning – packing, buying lots of suncream, making sure I have the right batteries and plug converters for all of the bits of tech I’ll be bringing along. Packing’s more of a challenge than I thought it would be. I need clothes to be comfortable but professional, and that’s a challenge in itself. The hardest part has been balancing the modest clothing needed in a Muslim country with the desire not to die from over-heating in the desert sun.

Step 3 is working out how to offer you, dear reader, an exclusive Grand Prix experience through vicarious living. I won’t know how much I can photograph until I speak to a media rep at the circuit, but I’ve double-checked that my digital camera can talk to my Linux laptop. Being a Linux user has thrown up all sorts of added complications – my laptop won’t recognise my Dictaphone, so I’ll be recording podcasts through a very sexy and glamorous Skype headset. Here’s hoping the hacks in the media centre can suppress their giggles for long enough that I can do recordings.

Written down, the list doesn’t look so bad. But living through it is another matter entirely – I knew that freelance F1 journos had a tough time of it, but this is the first time I’ve really understood the challenges involved. Doing all this while also working full-time and trying to keep my life admin under control seems to be a bit more than I can comfortably chew, and I fully anticipate checking in to an insane asylum at the end of the season, if only for a four-month nap.

But organisation is one thing – completed lists lead to a sense of satisfaction in my addled brain. Balancing the two sides of my brain is another matter entirely. Half of me is more excited than a child on their birthday – the Bahrain Grand Prix is a big shiny toy that I can unwrap and play with all weekend long. The other half of my brain is pure fear: ‘All the other F1 journos know each other, and you won’t have anyone to talk to,’ and other such positive thoughts. It’s like being the new kid at school – I’m worried I’ll fall over a car in the pitlane and break it, or something equally stupid.

And then there’s the worry that I’ll get to Sakhir and the FIA discover they’ve made a mistake in accrediting me. Logically I know that won’t happen – I have all the paperwork in place – but paranoia and logic have never been the best of friends.

There’s only one thing for it, really – keep counting down the hours till I get on that plane Wednesday evening, and bring you with me every step of the way. This blog has been the rambles of a stressed-out madwoman. You’ll be pleased to learn that from here on out it’s all going to be a bit more pertinent. I’m going to be posting updates from the airport – especially when connecting at Doha – as I’d be surprised to make the journey without spotting an F1 face or two.

I’ll take photos of my hotel room, of the media centre, of the loos at the circuit – anything that FOM will allow me to photograph within the confines of my press pass that you might not have seen before. If I can get footage of the legendary paddock scooter races between the drivers, you can expect to see it here.

Keep checking girlracer throughout the race weekend, for analysis and the GP experience you won’t get anywhere else. I’ll be at the Bahrain International Circuit from Thursday morning till after the race on Sunday, and I want you looking over my shoulder to the greatest extent possible. Kate Walker Girlracer Magazine http://www.girlracer.co.uk

• Add New
• Search

Comments (0)

Write comment

Your Contact Details:

Name:

Email: do not notifynotify

Website:

Comment:

Title:

UBBCode:    ' />     -color-aquablackbluefuchsiagraygreenlimemaroonnavyolivepurpleredsilvertealwhiteyellow -size-tinysmallmediumlargehuge

Message:

Security

Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.

Powered by !JoomlaComment 4.0 beta1

!joomlacomment 4.0 Copyright (C) 2009 Compojoom.com . All rights reserved."