Interview: W&S Motorsport and GEDORE

Daniel Schellhaas, former Racing Driver, Racing Mechanic and Managing Partner of W&S Motorsport

GEDORE:
Daniel, you have 10 years behind you as an active racing driver in the RCN, VLN (now NLS) and the 24h race from 2008 to 2018. Now, in your mid-30s, you are the managing director of a successful motorsport company. When and how was your first contact with the racing scene?

Daniel:
I can't remember my first contact, I was too small! When I was born, my father was already racing in the VLN (now NLS) and I was already there as a baby! I then started karting quite late, at the age of 15, and then started in the car for the first time with Patrick when I was about 20.

GEDORE:
Why did you decide to move from the driver's seat to the boss's chair and how has your work changed?

Daniel:
I want to do all things 120% and I'm very meticulous about that! Going home from the track and knowing that you didn't perform 100% as a driver and team was quickly out of the question for me. To master both perfectly, to manage the company and the racing team as team manager and to race at the same time, is impossible from my point of view!

As managing director, I have to make many decisions, plan budgets, optimise processes, work up racing events and prepare the next races accordingly.

Patrick keeps my back free in the workshop and takes care of the preparation and follow-up of the vehicles, the maintenance and implementation of the optimisations. With Patrick Schweikert, we have a workshop manager for road racing and standard automotive work, who supports us both enormously and runs the company on site when we are both on the road at different race tracks in Europe.

GEDORE:
Your partner, Patrick Wagner, and you are not only managing directors but also engineers and automotive and racing mechanics respectively. You even have 10 years of experience on the race track yourself. To what extent does this influence your actions and decisions as managing directors?

Daniel:
To a very big extend, we built everything from scratch and went step by step the ways to be where we are today! We know exactly how hard this was and how much passion and energy went into it! So of course we don't want to make any "wrong" decisions!

Our practical experience gives us the advantage of being able to clearly compare costs and benefits in every decision. Always rationally, quickly and with a good rationale. This is the case with many team managers. The strong connection with motorsport and the experience of pit lane and race track shape and help to make the right decision for the team.

GEDORE:
How close are you still to the racing action?

Daniel:
One of us is at every event and runs the team. Patrick is team manager for the endurance races and I am for the GT4 championships.

W&S Motorsport and the GT Class

GEDORE:
You compete in the NLS, RCN and GTC Race series as well as in the ADAC GT4 and GT4 European Series. There you have one success after the other. What is your secret to success?

Daniel:
We can't reveal that in detail, of course! Certainly a big aspect is getting the overall package of team, cars, technology and drivers together perfectly. That's not always easy, because you have a lot of influencing factors and very little time on a race weekend. You can't lose sight of all these points and have to work constantly and constantly on all of them and optimise the processes.

The cars usually run flawlessly thanks to the tests and previous settings. There is so much going on behind the scenes that the spectators don't even notice: vehicle settings for downforce, camber, vehicle height, tyre pressure, among other things, often tip the scales.

And the condition of the drivers is not to be neglected. This is where the support comes in. Our drivers have to be in top shape. The team in the pit lane, too, of course. Here, a mistake can cost valuable seconds. An incalculable factor is often the weather - especially unpredictable at the Nürburgring.

With our cars - especially the new GT4 RS Cayman and 992 GT3 Cup - we have to approach the optimal settings from race to race. The field in GT4 is so tight that it depends on the form of the day. You also need luck, or rather you can't have bad luck!

GEDORE:
Compared to the other classes, there are no rules in GT4 regarding engine capacity or similar criteria. The cars have less than 500 hp and less power and aerodynamics than the GT3 cars. What is the attraction of the GT classes?

Daniel:
The basic idea of GT4 is different: the competition is kept as close as possible. That's what makes it so appealing and is also the challenge. As an example: We currently have 25 cars within 1 second of each other in the qualifying rounds!

The cars are homologated, which means that they have the same basic design. The manufacturer builds the car, presents it to the Belgian Motorsport Association ("ruler" of GT4), where it is brought up to GT4 standard and approved for the series. All this is done on the basis of a 150-page set of rules: in order to bring the different manufacturers to the same level, the organiser classifies the cars in terms of power, ride height and weight.

Accordingly, we ourselves have no leeway for the further development of the vehicles. The finer details are all the more important: Driver skills and qualification of the mechanics to optimise lap times and times in the pit lane.

GEDORE:
Do you have ambitions to move into GT3?

Daniel:
Currently, the focus is on endurance racing and the GT4 championships. We have clearly specialised here and want to win more championship titles in the coming years!

With a change of class, we would have to increase the number of mechanics and drivers, purchase new vehicles and also expand our range of tools. Since we would have more leeway in adapting the vehicles in GT3, we would have to find the right tools depending on the developments. Currently, a look into the crystal ball.

Tools and the Work in the Pit Lane

GEDORE:
In order for you to achieve flawless results in the races, your vehicles have to be in top condition. Besides the expertise of your team, what role does the quality of your tools play?

Daniel:
The Cayman GT4s are very much based on the production cars. Electrics and diagnostics are analogous to the series. The 992 GT3 Cup is a thoroughbred racing car. Many things simply go faster here. A gearbox removal in the Cup can be done in 30 minutes. With the Cayman, it takes more like 3 hours. In these and all other cases, the following applies: If the tools are not of the right quality, we cause damage, lose time or tools and material - in the worst case, a team member is injured. An example: Our first equipped workbenches from GEDORE from 2017 and the new ones are 100% identical. We have virtually no wear and tear on the tools and could simply build on the old stock. This not only gives us an advantage in terms of procurement, but also gives us the good feeling of being able to rely 100% on the tool on the race track.

GEDORE:
In constant use are torque spanners.What are your quality characteristics?

Daniel:
Highly precise and gentle on the force! The lower the tolerance to the set value, the better. Especially when we are in the field of optimising vehicle settings. And it is important that our team does not exhaust itself during the strenuous missions. We not only have to perform mentally, but also physically.

GEDORE:
Which torque spanners are in use and for what?

Daniel:
For the GT4 cars, we use standard torque spanners. The torque spanners with a measuring function, such as the Torcotronic, are used to check the limited slip differential and are important to document its condition and wear and to keep an eye on the balance of the racing car. For the tightening torques of the central locks of the GT3 we use the DREMOMETER. Here we need a precise torque of 550 Nm. For the standard 5-hole wheel hub with 120 Nm tightening torque, we use the GEDORE DREMASTER. Also for tightening torques on various screws around the aluminium carrier and when replacing components, such as the flywheel or clutch. Torque is always needed in the field of repair and maintenance, and in all torque ranges.

GEDORE:
How do you organise your measuring equipment management?

Daniel:
In ongoing racing operations, the torque spanners are exposed to high forces and are constantly stressed. So the odd repair is necessary - and regular servicing anyway. All the measuring equipment has a corresponding inventory number and behind it is the test date. These are sent to GEDORE for service after a specified time - for calibration and maintenance.

GEDORE:
How do you organise all the tools?

Daniel:
All the tools are in the GEDORE foam inserts and are colour-coded to the corresponding toolbox. The inserts themselves are great for keeping track of everything. Because we have at least three copies of everything.

Off the Race Track

GEDORE:
After the season is before the season. When do you race the last races and how do you prepare for the next season during the break?

Daniel:
The final rounds of almost all racing series take place in October. But we also have a nice programme abroad in winter with various track days and test days. Until then, we are almost always on the road! This year, we will contest a total of 53 races, plus numerous test days. Repairs and maintenance are always done between races. Therefore, there is no special work after the season. Often the design of the cars changes. On the other hand, there is a lot of maintenance work on the fleet between seasons. Maintenance of the trailers, tractors and equipment. Further development of the team, optimisation of procedures and planning for the new season.

GEDORE:
Why GEDORE as a tool partner?

Daniel:
GEDORE stands for over 100 years of tool expertise from a family business! GEDORE manufactures high-quality and durable tools in its own forge, which have been used in our company for years. We are more than convinced of the quality! The special solutions in the automotive sector are virtually the cherry on top. When choosing our tool partner, we left nothing to chance and looked at various tool manufacturers from Germany. GEDORE was our first port of call! Quality, durability and fast availability played a major role. Service and direct contact with the manufacturer to discuss special solutions were equally important to us.