Newman/Haas: Bruno Couprie, Race Engineer

Name: Bruno Couprie

Team: Newman/Haas Racing

Position: Race Engineer

Weekday duties: Technical preparation of race events, specify the car build and setup, plan with the driver and mechanics prior to each weekend. Also some development work.

Race weekend duties: Responsible for all the technical decisions, the run plan, the qualifying strategy, driver debriefs and data analysis. Race strategy preparation and decisions during the race (taken together with the team manager).

Total years in racing: 13

Years with current team: Since 2006

Previous teams you’ve worked with: Promatecme (F3), Toyota (F1), Opel (DTM).

How you got started in racing: Marshalling and racing go-karts at university. Then I volunteered to work for Lotus at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It got me a job in British F3, where the first driver I race engineered was Jenson Button!

Favorite part of job: Working as a team, and getting the best out of myself and the people I work with, especially the driver. Racing is a great human adventure.

Most difficult part of job: Balancing racing and family life, and the physical strain of the schedule.

Career highlight in racing: Getting to be part of such a mythical team as Newman/Haas in their championship years and then being promoted to race engineer. Having the trust of such people feels special.

Favorite way to spend an off-weekend: Spending some quality time with my wife and kids. It is hard to beat some good slot car racing at home with them!