Greg Martin, Engine Technician and Tireman, ADT Champion Audi
By Kate Shaw
Photos © David Babcock“

LA SARTHE, France (June 10, 2004) – When Greg Martin was introduced to me, he said “G’day,” but when he was introduced as an Australian, he was quick to retort, “No, I am a Kiwi!” Although Martin retains the Kiwi flavour to his speech, he has lived in the States for many years. He comes from an impressive racing background which includes Champ Cars and sports cars alike. He worked with Brad Kettler at Essex Racing in 1986 and for five years with Rohr Racing, and when the Champion Audi team were formed, naturally his old mate thought of him. He’s been with ADT Champion Audi for about 4 years, where his main responsibility is looking after the mechanical aspects of the engine: checking the seals, changing parts, tightening and loosening, making sure everything is as close to perfection as it’s likely to get in this life. Martin is with the “critical team” that returned after the very successful Test Day in April, to the factory in Germany where the car was completely rebuilt and carefully checked to be certain that every little bit was not only in perfect working order but was to ACO specification. He then travelled with this group of team members directly to Le Mans, meeting the main group on the grounds.

During the actual race, Martin’s job also turns to tires. Unlike Formula One, for example, ACO regulations allow for only two tire men over the wall at a time. Martin works on the left side with Keith Branasford working on the right: moving at Warp Speed around the car, one loosens and removes the old tire, and the other replaces and tightens the new one.

But of course putting on his ‘tire man’ hat does not mean he removes his ‘engine man’ hat. Like most of the other mechanics and engineers I spoke to, Martin never leaves the garage after 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, until the race is run; what food and sleep he takes time for are in a not-too-out-of-the-way corner of the pit garage.

Knowing that there are such things as “disaster drills” (though Heaven forfend the car should suffer a disaster); I asked him how they laid out the tools and parts in anticipation of such an event. “All those in the department that is responsible for the particular disaster,” he explained, “make a list of everything that's needed to correct the problem. Then we put together special tool boxes containing a complete set of the items needed. If the brakes go, we grab the ‘brakes’ tool box; if it’s the radiator, we have one especially for that.” Everything in the box is placed there in the order it will be needed, and the system is constantly revised to be certain that the last .001 of efficiency is extracted from the process. “It’s this level of attention to detail,” Martin concluded, “that makes the difference between a DNF and a place on the Victory Podium.”

Finally I asked him, “What do you like best about Le Mans? What’s the most exciting thing about coming here?”

“I’d have to say it’s the atmosphere of the place – the fans, the history, the beer … it’s like no other place on earth. Everyone at Champion Audi loves to come to Le Mans. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” And then, with a big grin, he added, “But the biggest thrill of all for us will be winning the race.”

With attention to detail and confidence like that, it won’t be long until the pit wall is lined with ADT Champion Audi flags and Greg Martin will be up on that wall, no doubt, adding his ringing Kiwi voice to cheer their team home.