Pit crew members like to keep out of the way of the limelight.
And probably cars, too.
Audi pit crew mechanic Aaron Thornton has not been hit by any cars on the job, and he likes to keep a low profile.
His team was keeping Audi cars running smoothly over the weekend at the Highlands Motorsport Park.
On Friday the crew worked for 18 hours, repairing a car damaged during the training day.
The cost could run into six figures, he said.
Originally from Hamilton, Mr Thornton (37) said he had been tinkering with cars since he was about 12.
Becoming a qualified mechanic started a career which has taken him around the world from home to Australia, America, Mexico, Canada, and Dubai.
Some of the most exotic locations had included the ''backblocks'' of China during rally car racing.
It was not all travelling, however.
''During a race we have about 25 seconds to change a tyre and that kind of stuff. Some racing can be high stress. GT is pretty relaxed unless something goes wrong.''
The job, usually about 10-12 hours a day, did require performance under pressure, but Mr Thornton enjoyed it.
''It's a good team thing, [and when] you are going in to pit stops, it gets the heart pumping and the adrenaline going.''
Competitiveness, and watching a car he had worked on out on the track added to the enjoyment.
Travelling had become the hardest part of the job, as the work had become ''second nature''.
During his career he had worked on Formula Atlanta cars for six years in California, completed six years with Possum Bourne Motorsport, and as well as others, had worked with Audi for the past two - three years.
As a contractor to different racing teams, being self-employed and setting his own hours was the best part of the job.
Throughout the years, he had not seen many injuries to pit lane workers. ''Everyone is pretty good, you just have to be aware of your surroundings.''
He could not pick a favourite car he had worked on. ''They are all good. I have worked on so many I could not pick one, to be fair.''
The money was not too bad, either.
''I don't have a life, so you make a pretty good living off it.''
He did clarify that working with cars was his life.
There were a surprising number of New Zealanders working as pit crew members around the world.
''Everywhere you go you can pretty much guarantee there will be a kiwi somewhere.''
