Italian Formula One fan Luca Giuliani had his first visit to the Ferrari pits during last year's Sepang Grand Prix.

Yesterday, I finally had the chance, thanks to Shell, who this year, celebrates more than 60 years of technical partnership with Ferrari, fuelling its racing ambitions.

Formula One is the best-organised sport in the world, for the media circus that covers it.

I have no doubts about this, having covered other sports, including major sports events like the World Cup last year.

Truly, it's a sport that boasts precision and first-rate organisation. And that filters down from the way the teams treat their chosen sport, to even the organisation for the media.

In 2000, I attended my first Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang as a journalist. At the time, I was accredited with a media pass, having applied to cover it, and the access to the world-class media centre there was superb.

But there were constraints, though.

While we had access to the pitlane paddock area behind the pits, a common walkway where F1 team bosses, personnel, drivers and mechanics go about their business during the three-day Grand Prix event, we needed a special pass to be able to visit the pit lane area.

Those passes can usually, only be secured with the help of major sponsors. At the time, I had the privilege to visit the Williams team's pit garage, thanks to a sponsor.

But yesterday, I thanked my lucky stars as Shell ushered a small group of us Singapore journalists after qualifying ended at 3pm, to the Ferrari pit garage.

To many F1 fans, this is the Holy Grail of all Formula One team garages.

First, we were brought from the spectator grandstand opposite the start-finish straight - via an underpass - to the entrance of the pitlane paddock area.

Special passes were needed, and entry was allowed only once, past the barrier.

No double swiping (in case you try to sneak in someone whose name is not on the original list).

The back of the Ferrari pit garage was filled with stacks of Bridgestone tyres.

I walked past a stack and could feel the heat from a distance.

Eric Cheng, 37, who handles the marketing and communications on site at Grand Prix races for the Shell Formula One team with Ferrari, warned me: "Be careful, they just came off from Kimi Raikkonen's and Felipe Massa's qualifying session earlier.

No pictures from inside F1 team garages though, are allowed for publication without specific permission from the sport's ruling authorities.

Only pictures taken from the pitlane area outside a cordon are permitted.

We were then brought to the front of the Ferrari pit area. Although the teams were starting to clean and pack up for the day by then, it wasn't hard to imagine the kind of buzz and energy that must be present every day when practice, testing or racing needs to be done.

Fuelling hoses were there right in front of us.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Cheng said: "For normal road cars, it takes a second to pump a litre.

"For F1 cars, it takes a second to pump 12 litres.

"The technical details are mind-boggling. We have a special Shell Track Lab that travels with the Ferrari team to every race.

"There are more than 40 tests per weekend on fuel and engine lubricants, and to give you a quick reference, we even have fuel customised for hot weather, and for cold weather. Every millisecond counts."

On that subject of time, the fans in the main grandstand opposite the pits - over the past two days -could see the Ferrari team specially practising their tyre-changing routine.

Cheng explained: "They do it before the various sessions. And sometimes, they can practise on into the night after most staff have left, just to get it as perfect as they can."

Indeed, what took seven seconds for such an operation in the 1980s, now takes the Ferrari team five seconds at the most, as I timed them on Friday.

A stack of Ferrrari nose cones was then pointed out to us.

Cheng said: "The nose cone is specially made from different parts. And the wing parts can cost up to US50,000 ($76,000).

"So when you put them altogether (see pictures), to form an entire nose cone section, it costs more than US$100,000.

Quickly, The New Paper turned its focus to Cheng himself.

A 37-year-old Malaysian, he applied for the job with Shell five years ago.

"I used to do marketing and communications before I joined the outfit. And I guess it was a bit of luck involved.

"Because I was the only one who could do this job at the time, and they needed someone. That's how I came on board.

"But really, what seems to be the glamour of the job, being associated with F1 and a legendary team like Ferrari on top of that, is quickly offset by the reality of the pressure and constant demands.

"There's a lot of logistics and administration on site too, to handle.

"Long hours are an understatement for anyone working in this team. The satisfaction, though, comes from the excellent team work between Ferrari and Shell.

"Everyone has a specific job within the team, and they do their best to concentrate on it.

"But it's necessary, really, to aim for perfection, which is what we all in F1 strive for.

With that, Cheng had to end the session for the four of us.

After all, he had more waiting corporate guests on his list of visitors to the Ferrari pit area.

And by the way, all this information was gleaned from him in just...a five-minute visit.

Still, five minutes was something, just to get into the Holy Grail of all F1 team garages, belonging to that famed Italian stable.