The Mole gives you... Lee McKenzie's guest blog!
The Mole is delighted to welcome ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sport's F1 reporter Lee McKenzie onto the blog, to give an insight into her life charting the ups and downs of sport's ultimate speed merchants:
"Hi, you may have encountered me on our TV coverage already this season - but I thought it was time I introduced myself on the blog and let you know what I get up to on a race weekend...
My job is really to get the best out of the drivers in interviews and bring you all the information you need - so even if you're relaxed on your couch after a full Sunday lunch, you have the same knowledge as me and you can hear from the drivers as much as possible.
But as well as speaking to the drivers on a race weekend, I also come up with features and ideas to speak to the drivers away from the track.
In motorsport you can't see the joy on a driver's face as he crosses the line first or the anguish when he crashes out. These masked heroes remain mostly faceless for many people - I want us to find out who they are, what they like and how they relax.
This week I filmed with Renault's Nelson Piquet Jr at his flat in Monaco. He showed us round his new pad and gave us a very honest and emotional interview.
After that I did a feature with Williams' Nico Rosberg about life in Monaco - complete with speedboat. What I like to do with these features is show the drivers in their natural surroundings, away from the corporate world of the race track.
I think it's important to present the drivers as rounded individuals. It's not just about living the high life, most of them do have a conscience too.
Last week I visited the earthquake city of L'Aquila in Italy with Toyota's Jarno Trulli. It was an emotional trip for all of us. Jarno is from the area of Abruzzo and it was the first time he had returned since the devastation occurred. This year he has taken a sponsor off his overalls and put the logo of his charity in its place. He hopes to raise enough money to rebuild a school by the end of the year.
We then headed off to his vineyard to check out his other 'hobby' and see how his family business has grown over the last five years. He was extremely knowledgeable about the science of wine production and I can vouch that his wine is fantastic - just a taste in the name of research, you understand!
I hope when you see all these features over the next few weeks we can give you an insight into these guys' worlds and help make you feel you know them all a little better.
Monaco is a massive challenge for drivers and really does sort the men from the boys. There are normally a load of crashers and bashers this weekend - I am expecting to interview a lot of people during the race.
It helps that I've worked with many of the drivers on their way up to F1. I know some of them from GP2, F3000, Bourdais from Champ Car, Buemi from A1GP and also from being around the F1 paddock for the last few years. So I hope I'm a friendly face for them to see, whether they have won or crashed out.
It's always easier talking to winners than crashers. I feel sorry for someone who has just made a silly error, or shunted at 180kmph into an Armco, and I imagine the last thing they would want to see is me running towards them with a microphone!
This is my sixth Monaco GP and it's always a joy to come here. I never fail to feel extremely lucky as I look around me and hear the noise of the cars as they wind their way through the wonderful streets.
Anyway, I'd better get on with writing my scripts and finding out what is going on out there.
It's back to the paddock for me and I really hope you enjoy what is always a fantastic weekend of racing.
Lee x"
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