A Day With: Audi race engineer Leena Gade

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  • Big ambition: Leena Gade.

    Leena Gade has always been a woman going places fast and she will be in the thick of the action at Le Mans this weekend, working as Audi’s race engineer for the last time before moving to Bentley.

    The Brit has been involved with cars since leaving university, was the first female race engineer to win Le Mans and will be hoping for more glory this weekend at the most famous endurance race of them all.

    She took some time out of preparations for the big race to speak to Sport360 editor Steve McKenlay.

    Your entire working life since leaving university appears to have involved cars. Why did you choose this career path?

    Obviously, you’ve got to be interested in motorsport to really do this job with full commitment. I’ve been interested in motor racing since an early age and watched F1 on television.

    I started working in the automotive industry before getting involved with motor racing. Since 2007, I have been working with Audi.

    You have a degree in Aerospace Engineering with Materials – how does this translate into the automotive world?

    It is not unusual at all to join a high-profile outfit in motor racing with a degree in aeronautics. This form of engineering helps in understanding complex aerodynamic subjects, which are similar in both areas. The same applies to the field of material technology.

    There are lots of synergies between both subjects.

    At what stage did you decide to move into motorsport and why?

    In 1998, I started working for a car manufacturer in its road car division, at the age of 22. In 2003, I started getting involved in motor racing at club level.

    Until 2007, I was working for smaller outfits, before I got the chance to work as an assistant to a race engineer with Audi in the American Le Mans Series.

    Can you explain the job of a data engineer?

    A data engineer has to analyse a huge amount of data generated by the racing car throughout a session or the race itself. In terms of aiding decision-making and how to deal with the balance requirements of race drivers, this is an extremely useful job to learn the trade.

    Any memorable moments in those early years with Formula Vee, Formula BMW and A1 GP?

    Obviously, each race writes its own story. Having started at grassroots level, you graduate into more professional series. Formula BMW has been a very professional series for up-and-coming drivers already.

    A1 GP was a global series that was held at fantastic venues in Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Asia, Europe and America. Breathing the air of an international series and competing against international teams was certainly a unique experience at that time.

    You moved around a little in 2009. Why was that?

    I was employed on a contract basis and used it as an opportunity to experience more than one motorsport field alongside my main commitment to Audi Sport.

    How did you get into Audi and what did it take to get where you are now do you think?

    I got in touch with Howden Haynes, originally for a different project but he mentioned at the time that he needed an assistant to support him in the ALMS in 2007. To graduate inside this organisation required precise work, trust, diligence and a lot of determination.

    There were a lot of helpful people whose support I have had since early on. And as you progress and as we were successful on track, we gained confidence and we evolved as a team. Audi trusted in us and so I assumed more responsibilities throughout the years.

    Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer, Benoît Tréluyer and I really gelled as a team. This obviously helps achieving results on a regular basis for years and years.

    Can you describe in detail what your job as test/race engineer involves, including your role at Le Mans?

    You could probably write a book on the role of a race engineer. Basically, this position is the hub between the engineers, who have designed a car and manage its systems, and the drivers, who use the car and tools on track.

    My job is to guide the race car and processes through the weekend, taking into account all the analysis and advice supplied by various departments.

    At the same time, the best analytical tools are only worthwhile if they help the team to improve the car. I would say that up to 50 per cent I am an engineer and the other 50 per cent I am a psychologist.

    In testing, you basically have to do similar work as in a race weekend, but the focus may be a bit different as the restrictions completely differ. Testing time is restricted and often there is no opposition on the track, instead you run through a rigid programme, which is demanding as well.

    What do you need to win Le Mans, from your point of view?

    There is no one secret. It’s a mix of attention to detail, experience, immaculate preparation, handling your drivers well, a strong team effort that includes every single mechanic, engineer and driver, advanced and reliable technology, reading the race correctly, reacting quickly in a smart way to every race situation and not letting yourself be irritated by details or minor setbacks.

    What is your relationship with the drivers like – do you have disagreements on the car’s set-up?

    As a team, our common aim is to find solutions. A disagreement would not be a very typical situation but can sometimes happen. The drivers explain what they need from their point of view, and it’s the engineers’ jobs to balance the pure performance with driveability for the drivers.

    Only when they fully trust the car are they quick. There’s no point of sticking to an opinion from my side that doesn’t help the drivers. So I would say it’s typical for us that we all work in the same direction and any disagreements are resolved quickly before moving on.

    Do you think it was harder for a woman to get where you are now than a man?

    Apparently, it’s not easy for women but I can’t say that I found barriers. That is why apart from engineering, I’m also involved in other aspects of our sport such as the FIA’s Women in Motorsport Commission.

    Also, I welcome and support campaigns to encourage young women to get started early on and develop an interest in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

    Also, we would like to raise the awareness of potential employers to consider offering women equal chances in both training and education, as well as employment opportunities and career paths.

    I see you are into rowing – did you ever have any Olympic ambitions?

    Yes! The year I started with Audi Sport, I had contacted the Head of the GB Rowing Squad on the requirements to train and compete for a place as a coxswain. Unfortunately, the timing was such that I couldn’t do both as the squad training was six days a week and required a full-time commitment as did racing with Audi Sport.

    What is your ultimate goal?

    I have a lot left to learn in motorsport and my aim is to gain as much depth in the field to keep a long and successful career. I am a pretty driven person, so the goal to win at everything I do whilst doing it well is at the core of my ambitions.

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