Yu Dayong said he has never driven as cautiously as he does these days.

"I felt so nervous having a VIP in my car. I did a lot of homework beforehand, like finding out about her habits and preferences," the 33-year-old volunteer driver for Anne Rogge, wife of IOC President Jacques Rogge, said.

Yu's motto is "success depends on details", which is reflected in the way he works.

"I hope when I am driving, Mrs Rogge can feel as if she's sitting on a chair. I have practiced every single detail, driving around with my wife acting as a VIP."

Such is the extent of his perfection that when turning bends, his passengers don't feel a thing at a speed of 20 kph in his Audi A6.

When pulling over, the ideal distance between a car and the curb is 50 cm because that way passengers can put their feet on the ground easily for their first step. When turning at a crossroads, the perfect angle is 60 degrees. These are the types of details a professional driver has to pay attention to. In addition, Yu has also developed a polite disposition to handle VIPs.

Yu even knows exactly where all the manhole covers are along the major roads he takes.

"There are more than 20 manhole covers between the Second Ring Road and Fourth Ring Road," he said.

Every time he approaches one, he will veer mildly to keep Mrs Rogge away from the slightest of bumps.

A cameraman with the Beijing municipal rural affairs committee, Yu became a volunteer driver for the Beijing Olympics on July 30, and, was given the prestigious assignment to drive for Mrs Rogge.

Besides the white polo uniform he was given, he has bought several shirts of different colors like light yellow, rose pink and Cambridge blue.

"Different colors add an element of freshness for the passenger. People will think you do not change your dress every day if you only have clothes of the same color," Yu said.

Yu found out from the Internet that Mrs Rogge is a doctor, which meant "she must be very particular about cleanliness". So every morning Yu gets to his work two hours early in order to wash the car.

Anything smelly is a no-no in his car, even preserved pickle.

"I just want to do my best for the Olympics, and am proud and happy about what I have achieved," Yu said.

Yesterday was his day off. But his duty comes above his family even on such days. After sending his year-old daughter to his mother's home, Yu had a good sleep. Because he has to put in his best the next day, a new day at an old job.