Felipe Massa Arrives At The Circuit With His Girlfriend Rafaela Bassi Hockenheim 2006-07-30

Before the start of a race (ie., Formula 1 GP, SuperBike Championships, MotoGP), the riders have to pull up onto their grid and wait for all the other racers to take their places on the line. The riders stand on the grid until all pre-race checks, adjustments and fueling have been completed. This process can take several hours. Preferred racing weather is over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and this together with the heavily padded fire proof racing attire can make the wait on the grid a very uncomfortable experience. To prevent the riders suffering from fatigue and heat stroke, the sponsors hire paddock girls to hold umbrellas for the racers whenever they are in the sun.
Paddock girls are also typically used to advertise the sponsors of their race team. Also known as promotional models, they usually range from 18-30 and are models. They attract attention by wearing tight fitted clothing (often short and revealing) which sport the logo/design of the sponsors.