Unsung hero - Barry Gough.

The focal point of any Formula One team is its drivers. Sure there are always larger-than-life owners and team principals in the sport who also get a fair share of coverage and acclaim too, but it is generally the guy who climbs into the car and puts his neck on the line that grabs our attention.

But behind the scenes are a phalanx of engineers, technicians and mechanics, all responsible for ensuring that their driver's car is primed and ready for action. Their work often goes unnoticed, but like their drivers, these talented individuals are also working at the top of their chosen profession. Long nights, early mornings, the constant grind of travelling and stress like you wouldn't believe are all parts of their job description, but in the face of it all, they get the job done and ensure there is a car ready to go racing come Sunday afternoon.

Barry Gough has been Jacques Villeneuve's number one mechanic since 2000. Prior to this, Gough worked as a number 1 mechanic on Ricardo Zonta's car during his tenure with the team.

He joined B.A.R in March 1998 and has now racked up 13 years in motorsport; eight of them in Formula One, working for Simtek and Jordan before he joined the Brackley based team.

As a Number One mechanic, he is responsible for ensuring that JV's car is correctly fitted out according to the vagaries of the circuit the team are visiting, as well as making set-up amendments as the weekend unravels.

He liaises closely with Jock Clear, JV's Race Engineer, and supervises two other mechanics, plus specialists who work on the key mechanic components such as engine, hydraulics and gearbox. In total it is the efforts of ten people who ensure Villeneuve's car goes racing. And that is just in the garage at-track.

"I started in motorsport by working at Reynards building Vauxhall Lotus' single seaters.... From there I have just worked my way up, learning from everyone I've worked with," noted Gough.

"Formula One is the pinnacle of this particular job and I am very lucky to be where I am, working with the people I do. That's the best thing of the job to be honest. Working hard with the same bunch of people, travelling around, competing and working to achieve something in the sport.

"It's about the camaraderie and the spirit you have as a team."

Away from the circuits, Barry works on the car back at Lucky Strike B.A.R Honda's base in Brackley - in bays designed to exactly replicate the garages he spends most of their time in - a true home from home! Back at base his principle responsibilities are to oversee the building of Jacques' race car in preparation for the next Grand Prix.

However, he stills finds time to work to take a well earned break in-between races, with his favourite way to wind down away from the track being his regular visits the gym and riding his mountain bike. His immediate aim, like so many of the enthusiastic team-mates, is to get the Lucky Strike B?A?R Honda team to the very top of Formula One and then after that, who knows...