Before putting the T127 through its paces Fairuz took some time out to speak to Badger yesterday. Read on to hear about his F1 debut on home soil, why he’s no fan of the test ban, and dabbling with Heikki Kovalainen in some classic Lotus F1 cars…

© Lotus Racing

First up, you’re in the car for first practice at Silverstone this weekend- how are you feeling about it?

It’s a great opportunity to be back in the car. The last time I drove it was in Sepang, and since then both the car and the team have progressed a lot- so it’ll be better this time! Also, Silverstone is special for me. I’m looking forward to driving the new track layout and I only live 50 metres from the circuit, so it’s like my second home. I’m really looking forward to it.

But the session is about the team and development work. Of course, it’d be great to do some quick lap times, but at the end of the day I have to work for the team. We’ve got a few things to test.

What upgrades do you have for this weekend?

We’ve got changes to the bodywork and also some new aero parts. We’re looking to gain up to half a second, and if we can achieve that it’d be great. I think Silverstone is going to be our final upgrade- we’re going to concentrate on the 2011 car after that. So I’ll be doing a programme to evaluate the aero, and hopefully we’ll have enough time to maximise everything, as time’s very tight to try everything. But it’ll be great to see how the comparisson goes.

You mentioned the new section of track at Silverstone- what do you make of it from what you’ve seen?

I think it looks fantastic. There’s a combination of slow-speed, medium-speed and really high-speed corners, and I think it’s going to create more opportunities for overtaking- there’s definitely a lot of corners where you can overtake, so I think it’s going to be interesting to watch. For us, the most difficult part is that we don’t know what the tyre wear is going to be like, and we’ll only find that out tomorrow. It’s probably going to be a bit like Valencia, but we don’t know yet.

© Lotus Racing

You did first practice in Malaysia earlier in the season- tell us a bit about that experience

Yeah, it was great to be there in an F1 car. I enjoyed racing in front of my home crowd in A1GP in the past, but to do it in an F1 car is something that I’ve always wanted to do and something I’ve always aimed for in my career. The session in Malaysia was the first time I officially drove in F1, so I was very happy, and it was an honour to drive in front of the home crowd. I hope I can do it as a race driver some day.

What’s it been like, as a racing driver, having to watch from the pit wall?

It’s been frustrating, but at the end of the day I’ve got to be professional about it- you need to start somewhere in F1. Heikki started as a test driver, but of course in those days there was no test ban, so it helped drivers like him get a seat. Now it’s a bit more difficult. They’re talking about maybe lifting the ban for next year, so we have to wait and see.

But from me, I just need to be prepared and work hard to stay in shape, physically and mentally. I just need to be positive and professional, because you never know. I need to be ready for my chance when it comes.

In Heikki and Jarno you’ve got two very experienced teammates with a lot of F1 milage- has it helped you to work with these guys, in terms of learning the ropes?

To be honest, experience is one thing, but I’ve got my own style of approaching things and I bring new things as well. To me, how I approach it is ‘don’t make mistakes’. You need to have a proper programme, don’t try to push too hard, because you’ve got to complete the mission that the team has set you.

Of course, tomorrow is my opportunity and everyone is saying ‘you need a lap time’, but to me it’s a job. It’s about allowing the team to evaluate things and gather data so I just need to do what I’ve been told. Of course, I’d love to nail a time, and if I’m given an opportunity on new tyres then I’ll do it.

© Lotus Racing

What’s it like working for a team with as much Formula One history as Lotus?

Lotus are like Ferrari- they’re one of the teams to beat- so for me to open my career with them is fantastic. It feels like being with a top team. Of course, this is a modern Lotus, but the spirit is the same as the old one. We’ve got the blessing of Clive Chapman, and it’s very important to have the family’s support.

I think the team has done a fantastic job this year. For a new team to come in and get stronger and stronger and get closer to the midfield is fantastic, and so far we’ve finished a lot of races, which is very important for us.

What’s the reaction to Lotus been like back home in Malaysia, because it’s essentially a Malaysian team?

It’s been good. I think they’ll properly understand it after a few years. They want a Malaysian to drive, so hopefully I can get my shot. Of course, Lotus is a Malaysian team, but every country wants to see their hero in the car. That’s the most important thing.

So you were at the Classic Team Lotus Festival at Snetterton a few weeks back- how did that go?

It was a fantastic weekend! To be able to drive the modern F1 car and classic F1 car on the same weekend was great, and I didn’t think the crowd was going to be that big. It definitely helped that the current Lotus team, with Heikki and Jarno, were there. So yeah, it was a really good experience for me and I’m looking forward to being back their again next year.

I had an opportunity to try the Lotus Type 72, the one that Emerson Fitipaldi won the championship in, and Heikki drove the Type 78. The car was unbelievable, and we had some fun! We did a bit of racing in the classic cars, which was really good fun for us and the crowd. Most of the day the classic cars were just doing demo laps, going round slowly, but me and Heikki were really nailing it, so that was good fun for the crowd!

Fauzy and Kovalainen do battle in a pair of classic Lotus F1 cars. © Classic Team Lotus

Finally, a question it’s always good to ask test drivers: do you feel more testing time is needed to allow guys like yourself, di Resta and other testers to get F1 experience and ultimately get a race drive?

Well, I don’t think the test ban makes a difference to the cars, because the teams will just spend a lot of money doing in-house research, so it’ll end up almost the same. But if they lifted the ban and restricted the development you’d create more competitive racing and it’ll provide better testing chances for the drivers.

So I think it’s very important for them to lift the ban, especially to help young drivers like myself. If they could create a session just for rookie drivers, like they used to do in A1GP, that’d be great. Maybe practice 1 could just be for rookie drivers. It would help them for sure, and if anything happens to the main driver the rookie is prepared- he knows what he’s going to face during the weekend. If you don’t do any testing or any Friday sessions and suddenly you’re in a race seat and you have to just jump in and qualify, I think that’s a bit unprofessional, and it can be dangerous as well.

First off, how are you feeling six races in to your career as a Virgin Racing driver?

Well, not perfect. We’ve struggled quite a lot in the races, and struggled to finish. I’ve only had the one finish in Barcelona, which is disappointing. We have to improve the technical aspects of the car and really just try to finish races and be the best of the new teams.

What has struck you as the most positive thing about the Virgin team?

The atmosphere in the team is really good, and the way they cope with the problems of a new team. In general I think we get on with things quite well and focus on sorting out the problems with the car. That’s all quite positive.

So how did your signing for Virgin come about-  what convinced you to take a chance on a brand new team?

The situation in Formula One. I mean, I was with Toyota and then they stepped out at the end of the year and suddenly my whole situation changed. Then I got this chance with Virgin and I just… took it.

You’ve switched from a team fighting for points and podiums to one where just finishing a race is an achievement. Have you had to alter your approach to racing this year?

Yeah definitely. I mean there isn’t really a race going on for us on Sundays because we’re just fighting against the blue flags and the top teams are lapping us. That’s not a proper race, but that’s how it is. We’ve just got to get on with it and try to improve.

At the moment the important thing is for both cars to finish and to try to make little improvements here and there with the car, little aero updates. Hopefully things will go right and take us a step forward.

How are you getting on with your new teammate?

Oh, very good. I mean, I already knew him and had a good relationship with him from GP2 and it’s working out quite well.

You beat him to the GP2 title in 2007- do you ever bring this up, just to remind him who’s boss?

Haha! No, I think he knows it! He doesn’t need reminding.

Is Istanbul Park a circuit you enjoy?

Yeah it’s good. We’ve had good racing here in the past and  I’ve had good races here in GP2. So yeah, I like the track and it’s good fun.

Tell us a bit about turn 8…

Yeah, it’s quite a nice corner, an interesting corner, and really long. There’s no corner like it on any other track and that makes it pretty nice.

Pretty intense we reckon! Tell us how you relax away from the circuit?

Generally I just try to spend some time on my bike and do a bit of the workout, riding through the forest or whatever. That’s the best way for me to get away from the race weekend.

Right, moving away from the F1-  today we asked our Twitter followers what they thought your favourite type of biscuit was. Would you like to put them out of their suspense?

(excitedly) Chocolate biscuit!

Cheers Timo, that’ll be a relief to a lot of people! Sticking with the non-F1 chat, what road car are you driving at the moment?

At the moment I’ve got a Nissan GTR.

And is there any particular music you like to listen to in the Nissan?

(Slightly confused) All sorts… I just switch on the radio and listen to whatever’s going on on the radio.

Okay then…  A few more quick questions: who is your sporting hero outside of motor racing?

I’d say Roger Federer is the big man for me. He really knows how to keep up his level over many, many years and I guess he’s had quite an interesting life.

What about football? Will you be cheering Germany during the World Cup next month?

Yeah, for sure. I’ll try to watch all the games and hopefully they can get to the semi-final or maybe even the final. But I think getting to the final would be quite difficult for us.

We’ve seen Glockdog written on the side of your helmet- where did the nickname come from?

My helmet designer came up with that, he put the logo on my helmet. His idea…

What do you think you would be doing if you weren’t a racing driver?

Well, my dad has a scaffolding company. So I think I’d work at that. Yeah.

And finally, when you retire from racing how would you like Formula One fans to remember you?

As a big World Champion!

All images courtesy of Virgin Racing Media

But since that difficult debut Karun’s impressed a lot of people. He got the car to the chequered flag for the first time in Australia then repeated the feat a week later in Malaysia, where he also out-qualified and outraced teammate Bruno Senna.

And it’s not just in the car Karun’s been impressing. Outside the cockpit he’s been winning fans with his open, easygoing attitude. Put simply Karun is a good guy. Such a good guy in fact that he took some time out between the Chinese and Spanish Grand Prix to talk to Badger about his F1 debut, the sport’s arrival in India and having a curry named after him at a Brackley restaurant. Spicy…

© HRT F1

First off, congratulations on getting the drive with Hispania and finishing in both Australia and Malaysia. The deal with the team came about pretty late; how did it develop from your side of things?

Yeah, thanks a lot. I think finishing in Australia and Malaysia was a huge achievement for both myself and the team. Considering we had almost no running at all, to finish in 14th and 15th respectively was a great performance by the team.

It’s been a long hard road to get here. I’ve had many ups and downs in my career but I’ve never given up. You know, I’ve won a race in almost every racing category that I’ve competed in, so I’ve always been confident that I have what it takes to compete at the highest level.

We started talking to Adrian [Campos, Hispania's previous owner] at Valencia last year, but with so much uncertainty things were dragging on. We started to look at other options and were close to other deals but nothing materialized. Then Colin Kolles got in touch with us to say he was taking over the running of the team. With Bernie’s advice we were able to work very quickly with Colin and sort out a deal.

You said in an interview last season that you had over 1,500 contacts in your phone. How many more have you added to that since the start of the season, or did you decide to throw the phone away to get some peace and quiet?

Well I actually lost that phone with half my contacts but have just managed to get them all back. After becoming an F1 driver the last thing you get is peace and quiet!

© Sutton/Autosport

Could you give us an idea of what the Hispania boys have been through to get you and Bruno  to the grid?

Considering we had no pre-season testing at all, we knew we had an uphill task for the start of the season. The boys have been absolutely brilliant, working around the clock to get the car ready. Bahrain was really tough on them as they spent most nights without any sleep at all. Australia and Malaysia were similar but it is definitely good to see that we are all here working towards making the car better and faster. One thing is clear in our minds: we are not here to make up the numbers– we are here to compete.

What was that first qualifying lap in Bahrain like?

Far from ideal. I don’t think anyone in F1 has gone straight into qualifying without testing or a single lap of free practice. That was definitely not the way I envisioned my first race in F1! It was an amazing feeling as it was my first F1 race, but  when it happened the feeling of accomplishment was the last thing on my mind as just before the start of the race I was told about a possible hydraulics problem. So the only thing on my mind was whether we would get the car out. Before that, it was a good experience overall.

Bruno was your teammate back in your GP2 days as well. Has the fact that the two of you already know each other helped the team settle quickly?

Bruno and I get along very well and we are really good friends off the track as well- which isn’t very common in this sport. He and his family are great people and we’re both mature enough to deal with the pressures. We both have the same objective– which is to be more competitive- and we know we have to work together to achieve that objective. At iSport we had a great working relationship with the engineers so it is definitely an advantage for us. We always had a similar style and similar requirements from the car which is good for the engineers to carry out parallel programs. And I think because you are friends you trust each other a bit more.

Also we’re told you’re a Prost fan- does Bruno know about this?

Yeah Bruno knows and we have a good laugh about it! I grew up watching both Senna and Prost battle each other so both had a huge influence on me.

© HRT F1

Thinking about this season, what are your short and long-term aims? Do you think points are a possibility down the line or is that too much to ask?

Well, the short-term aim is definitely to catch up with the other new teams. On the reliability front we’ve been really strong so we will have to ensure we continue with that while going faster as well.

The target for this year is to spend the first half of the season collecting all the data we need to carry out improvements on the car, and be as consistent in our finishes as possible, so that we end the year as the most successful of the new teams on the grid.

What’s the support from India been like since the season started?

The reaction to my promotion to F1 has been fantastic. I’ve had so many messages on my Twitter page and my website- it’s been quite overwhelming. There’s been so much support from within India and also the Indian communities around the world who’ve said that they will come to the races with Indian flags in hand to support me, which is great to hear. The media has been very good in the last few weeks despite the IPL [The hugely popular Indian Permier League of cricket] obviously taking up so much of their time.

Speaking of Twitter you’ve made plenty of use of it this year to keep your supporters up to date. How important do you think it is for F1 fans to have this sort of interaction with the drivers?

Well I’ve been tweeting for the past 8 months now and I think it is a great way to not only interact with the fans but also give them an insight into a life of an F1 driver. There are quite a few of us drivers who tweet along with the teams. It gives the fans a way to understand what is going on inside the team as well. For me an important side to it is the interaction with the fans.

Back to India, your home country will of course be hosting its first grand prix in 2011. What would it mean for you to race there next year?

Obviously there is a lot of hype and expectations on me from India, with 1.2 billion people, and I’ll do my best not to disappoint anyone!  I hope that I can be in a position where we are more competitive for the rest of this season and that I’m in a competitive position next year. But  there’s no doubt being the only Indian driver lining up for the first Indian GP will be a special feeling. It would be great to see many more companies step up to promote motorsport in the country as they stand to gain a lot.

© HRT F1

From a racing perspective, what would make 2010 a good year for Karun Chandhok?

Well if we can score some points by the end of the season it will be a massive achievement, not only for me but the team as well. If we could be the best of the new teams then all of our objectives for the season will be achieved.

A few non-racing questions to finish. If you could invite any 5 people to dinner, dead or alive, who would you invite and why?

That would be… Prost, Senna, Ron Dennis, Bernie and Frank Williams.The stories I’d get out of them would be legendary!

That still ended up being about racing! We hear your favourite meal is ‘Karun’s Special’ from the Kushboo restaurant in Brackley. How did you end up with a meal named after you and what exactly is it?

Well, when I went there for dinner one night, I ended up food tasting for them and they ended up naming that dish after me. The ‘Karun’s Special’ is a mix of a certain type of Indian bread with minced lamb inside it along with some potatoes.

Favourite book, movie and tipple?

It’s Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life by Lance Armstrong. Favourite movie would be Top Gun. I don’t drink alcohol too much but do enjoy the occasional glass of red wine.

Finally, if you weren’t a racing driver- scary thought, we know- and could choose any other job in the world what would it be?

Quite simple – F1 Commentator!

But the country has never had a real grand prix star. Undoubtedly the most successful Dutch F1 driver was Jos ‘The Boss’ Verstappen, who scored two podiums for Benetton in the ‘94 season. Sadly that was the high point of Jos’ career: he spent the next decade driving a series of lackluster cars, enjoying only a brief renaissance in the 2000 Arrows-Supertec.

Since then we’ve seen a few brief cameos from Robert Doornbos (at Minardi in ‘05 and Red Bull in ‘06) and the largely forgettable Christijan Albers, whose last act in a Formula One race was to leave the pits with the fuel hose still attached at the 2007 French GP.

But now there’s a new star on the horizon. No, it’s not Verstappen’s 12 year-old son Max- though Badger wouldn’t be surprised to see him knocking on the F1 door in a few years- it’s Giedo van der Garde, one of the favourites for the 2010 GP2 title. And, with him being a man on the brink of F1, Badger decided to get on the phone and ask the lad some questions.

© Alastair Staley/GP2 Media

After picking up plenty of titles in karting van der Garde stepped up to single-seaters in 2003 and enjoyed an impressive rookie season in Dutch Formula Renault. He then spent three years in the Formula Three Euroseries, where results were mixed, but a switch to the World Series by Renault saw his stock rise hugely as he claimed the title in 2008. Along the way he’d also been part of both Renault and McLaren’s young driver programmes, as well as enjoying a stint as test driver for Spyker- the team we now know as Force India.

In 2009 he switched to F1 proving ground GP2. A difficult start to the season could have knocked him off stride, but van der Garde got his head down and ended the season with a flourish. A breakthrough victory in Hungary set him in motion, and he went on to claim further wins at both Spa Francochamps and Monza, which he reckons stands him in good stead for 2010.

“I had a great end to last year. In the beginning I struggled a bit to adapt to the car, the tyres and the team, but in the middle of the season it just switched on. We were very competitive, especially in the races.

“I used to struggle on the Hungaroring, but in the last two seasons it’s all worked out! I’ve always been very quick at Spa and at Monza. I like them as circuits and I think they suit my style.

“It definitely puts me in a good position for 2010. I now know how to prepare myself, I’ve got a seasons experience and this year we have to fight for the championship”.

van der Garde beat Petrov & di Grassi to victory at Monza last year- now he's planning on joining them in F1. © XPB/Autosport

This year he’s switched teams, hooking up with Spanish outfit Barwa Addax- Vitaly Petrov’s home when he took 2nd in last year’s championship.

“Addax contacted me at the end of last year and asked me to do a test in Jerez. I was quickest overall, and at this point I said okay, I have a better feeling with the car here. I’m very pleased with how they operate and with how they work.

“The plan was always to do another year in GP2 and I’m fully focussed on it, but this will be my last year. I’m already 25 so this is my last shot for sure. This is the year, and I’m fighting really hard for it, I’m training really hard and I’m busy with it 24/7″.

Well, he said it himself: this has to be his year. It may seem crazy for a guy of 25 to be talking about his last chance to break in to F1, but when you consider that Lewis Hamilton was a world champion at 23, and Sebastien Vettel is among the very best drivers in the world at 22 it makes a little more sense.

Not that this has got Giedo’s pulling his hair out. He’s got an air of calm about him, and is relaxed when he talks about the drivers he’ll have to beat and the sort of results he’ll need to take the title.

“Who will be strong? Pastor Maldonado [the veteran Venezuelan racer who's shone in pre-season testing]. He’s going in to his 4th season, he’s got a lot of experience and he knows what to do. I think some of he rookies will be quick too, especially Jules Bianchi. He’s got the speed.

“To win the title the big thing is to score in the beginning and try to win some races, then be as consistent as possible. Of course you’ll have some days when you’re on top and you’ll have some when you’re not quite so good, but in the latter case you’ve just got to score points”.

So the title is clearly his aim this year. He’s been on the fringes of Formula One for over 3 years now and, as he’s the first to admit, he needs to make the step up sooner rather than later. But he wont be pushed on F1 talk- GP2 is his sole focus.

“My goal at the moment is just  GP2, to win the championship. I mean, you can speak about Formula One and blah, blah, blah, but first you’ve got to win GP2 and then you can go on”.

Testing for Spyker in 2007. © Reuters

So van der Garde has a top team, experience of winning titles and total focus on the task in hand. Can he claim this year’s GP2 championship- a title that almost guarantees you and F1 drive?

It’s a tough call, what with the competition being so fierce, but he’s without doubt among the favourites. As for making it to F1 he’s got a good shot at that too- his F1 testing experience makes him a more appealing option to teams in the test ban world of F1. He reckons he’s up to it, and Badger’s looking forward to charting his GP2 progress this season to see if he can make the ‘Flying Dutchman’ nickname his own.

Like many drivers these days Giedo uses Twitter- the soon-to-be world conquering micro blogging site- to keep his fans up to date. You can follow him via @GvanderGarde and,  if you’re not already, be sure to follow Badger via @F1Badger.

St George’s Day Special – Badger has a bit of a natter with England’s next Grand Prix star.

With the grand prix circus on a three-week hiatus now is as good a time as any to take a look at a young driver aiming to make it in to the sport in the near future.

Being as we’ve already cast an eye over Scotland and Wales emerging talents it’s time to turn the spotlight on to England’s newest star- and with today being Saint George’s day we reckon we’ve picked the perfect time to do so. Step forward Roehampton-born racer Sam Bird. He’ll be making his debut in F1 feeder-series GP2 this year, and Badger got on the phone with him earlier this week to see how the preparation’s going.

© Alastair Staley/GP2 Media Service

Like most racing drivers nowadays Bird was a success in karting, stepped up to single-seaters in his teens and climbed the ladder, competing in Formula BMW, British Formula Three and the ultra-competitive Formula Three Euroseries along the way. Last November he contested the prestigious Macau Formula Three race for French team ART Grand Prix, had a stellar drive to 3rd, and now finds himself in the enviable position of driving a GP2 car for them in the F1 support championship.

But whilst he may be a rookie Bird is in a great position to have a strong 2010 and make the step up to Formula One in the not-too-distant future. Why? Because his new team, ART, are the unquestioned kings of GP2, having taken three drivers to the title in the five seasons the series has been running. They’re the team to drive for and Sam will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of former ART drivers Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Nico Hulkenberg in making the leap from the French squad to motorsport’s highest category. The way he talks about them says he knows he’s landed in a mega team.

“We work extremely hard at what we do but we also have a lot of fun and I’m really enjoying it. They’re extremely professional. Their attention to detail is extraordinary and they leave nothing to chance.  As a driver at ART you learn an awful lot about what you can do in the car to get 100% out of yourself.

“I’ve wanted to drive for them for a while and I’ve managed to earn myself this opportunity, so I’m really, really looking forward to the season and want it to start now”.

© LAT/Autosport

There’s not long to wait before it does start, with GP2 kicking-off in just two weeks time, supporting the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya. And, as you’d expect in a series that the F1 team bosses watch closely to pick out talent, it’s going to be extremely competitive, with a host of drivers in with a shot at glory.

“There are 24 drivers on the GP2 grid who are going to say the same thing: ‘I want to win the championship’. That’s what racing drivers want to do, and that’s exactly what I want to do. However, I’m not looking at that just yet. That’ll be decided in November by the results I get throughout year. At the moment I’m just aiming to have a good opening round. I want to get a good weekend at Barcelona under my belt.

“Obviously my teammate Jules Bianchi is going to be extremely quick- I rate him very highly after working with him. We’ve been about the same pace in testing so he’s going to be very good.

“You’ve got some experienced guys: Pastor Maldonado, Jerome d’Ambrosio, Giedo van der Garde and Sergio Perez; and you’ve also got some other quick rookies like Christian Vietoris and Charles Pic, so there are some really good drivers this year. I think it’s going to be an extremely strong and tough year.

“I want to be able to finish the season knowing that at every single round I gave it 100% and that I drove my best and I believe that if I drive at my best we’ll be right at the sharp end”.

Bird's teammate Jules Bianchi (left) should also be a real threat in GP2 this year. © LAT/Autosport

But despite the high level of competition and his seat with the reigning champions he’s calm about the season ahead. Being a rookie means not winning the title this year wouldn’t be a disaster; as long as he performs well the future’s still bright, so he’s not feeling too much pressure from anyone but himself at this stage.

“Of course, I want to win; I want to win races, I want to win championships and that’s the pressure that I put on myself, but the pressure isn’t coming from any external sources. In any case, it’s a positive pressure. I’d rather call it motivation or hunger”.

So he’s set for a tough but potentially career defining season, one that he, like every GP2 driver, hopes will take him on to F1. But he’s no stranger to F1 machinery, having carried out aerodynamic testing and demo runs for the Williams team. And, as you’d expected, he’s pretty happy to be involved with the legendary British outfit.

“I’ve enjoyed every single minute of it. I really get on with all the guys there. It’s been a fantastic honour for me and I’d like to think that I’ve contributed in some way. But there is no firm commitment on either side for the future. We’ll see…”

But the current testing restrictions mean his and other young drivers’ opportunities are limited. Every driver on the brink of F1 wants to get in a car and show the team bosses what they can do, and Bird is no different.

I would love to see more test days. It’s extremely hard as a young driver to get recognised in the first place, and then the fact that there are hardly any test days really restricts running for rookies like myself. But I understand the reasoning is behind it.

Testing for Williams in Qatar last December.

Back to GP2, which events is Sam most looking forward to sharing with the F1 boys? Like most drivers he’s excited about his home circuit and a few of the old classics.

“I think that it’s going to feel extremely special driving at Silverstone what with it being my home race. I’m also looking forward to Monaco, but my favourites as far as tracks go are probably Spa and Monza. They’re tracks that I’ve done well on: in British Formula 3 I’ve won at Spa and I got a second and a third on my first visit to Monza, so I’m really looking forward to these two tracks”.

Bird is one of a trio of British rookies joining the GP2 grid this year, but the top-notch team he has around him means he’s the best placed to join Jenson and Lewis in Formula One’s Brit Pack. It’s by no means guaranteed, and he knows that, but he is perfectly positioned to make his dream a reality. Badger will be keeping a very keen eye on this rising star’s progress in 2010, and we’ll be checking back in with him later in the season to see how he’s progressing and how he’s enjoying life under the F1 team bosses microscope. Stay tuned.

New to GP2? Fear not- Badger’s got a full preview of the 2010 season coming soon, with a guide to the drivers Sam will be fighting for a place on the F1 grid, as well as another exclusive interview with one of the title favourites.

It was in fact the other racer in McLaren’s all-British superteam, Gary Paffett, who was given the honour of taking the MP4-25 on its maiden run. The 29 year-old, a long-time McLaren employee, has been promoted to third driver this season following Pedro de la Rosa’s defection to Sauber.

But Gary’s not just a third driver. He’s also a hugely respected touring car racer, having claimed the 2005 DTM title for Mercedes, as well as finishing as runner-up in both 2004 and 2009. Alongside his McLaren duties he’ll be back in DTM this season in search of a second title, competing against the likes of Ralf Schumacher, Force India’s Paul di Resta and- rumour has it- David Coulthard.

It’s actually a bit of a mystery as to why Paffett’s not found himself a full-time F1 drive yet. He’s been linked with plenty of seats in the past- including the one Lewis Hamilton eventually took at McLaren for 2007- but it’s never quite come off. Still, he remains determined to break in to Formula One, and before the Australian Grand Prix Badger quizzed him about this, his role at McLaren and his touring car hopes for 2010.

Gary puts the MP4-25 through its paces. © Alex Comerford

What does your role as third driver involve over a race weekend?

The primary role is as reserve driver to step in to replace either Jenson or Lewis if anything were to happen. This is a very rare event but you have to be fully prepared just in case you get called upon. This means being as prepared as the race drivers before the event and ready to do the job up until Saturday, the deadline for driving the car. It’s a lot of preparation for what is normally a non-event, but it’s really important to be on top of it.

The other main reason for being there is to learn what the issues that the drivers have with the car and then helping to improve the package we have for the next session or race weekend. Working with the engineers at the weekend and then working with the simulations back at MTC  to prepare for the next race. Other tasks include attending press and marketing event to help everybody linked to the team understand what is happening.

How many races will you attend in the third driver capacity this season?

There aren’t any grand prix that clash with the DTM calendar so theoretically I could make all of them, but we’ll have to see with the work load, and be realistic about what’s possible. But I’d obviously love to attend all of the races as I feel like an I can add something to the team’s progress throughout the season.

So is your advice sought by the race drivers during a grand prix weekend, or do they prefer to go it their own way?

As I am not driving the car or working on one car in particular there are things that I might notice between the two cars or from what is happening on track that might be of interest to either of them. I  also interact with both sets of engineers to see if there is anything I may be able to help with as I have a drivers point of view on things.

What are Jenson and Lewis like to work with?

Well as you know Jenson and Lewis are both World Champions, and are both extremely fast drivers. They are both really good guys and the team spirit at the moment is better than it has ever been, which should help the team drive forward.

Do you still see yourself landing an F1 race-drive in the future?

It’s still very much a goal of mine and something I feel I deserve. I am now one step closer after being promoted to third driver at McLaren and hopefully this can help me get a race seat in the future. I’ve had a great time working with the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team since 2005 and the support and advice they’ve given me has really helped me to develop as an F1 driver.

Is the third driver role at a top team like McLaren preferable to a race drive with a tail-end team?

Obviously working with a top team like McLaren is a massive achievement in itself and it would be really hard to leave the team after such a long time. But if a race-drive offer from another team were to come up then I would seriously have to consider it. Racing is what I enjoy more than anything else.

Paffett celebrates another DTM victory at Zandvoort last season. © DTM Media.

As a third driver would you like to see a return to test drivers being able to take part in Friday practice without a race driver having to miss out?

I would, yeah. It is very hard for teams to give reserve/test drivers time in the car and I believe that this should change to give the reserve drivers some running during the season. The biggest single reason has to be that if any of the reserve drivers were needed to take over from one of the race driers there is a chance that they may not have driven an F1 car for up to 2 years. This in my opinion is dangerous and makes it impossible to really show your full potential if you are called upon.

I imagine you’ve done some straight-line testing in your time and it doesn’t sound too interesting- tell us what it’s like and what it involves.

It’s not the most demanding testing ever but it’s important and at least you get to drive the car. It basically involves testing current and new aero components on the car at lots of different situations at different speeds, different ride heights etc. to back up all of the data we’ve created using the wind tunnel. Some of the work is really good and doing the Vmax- the top speed- runs are the best part. Getting up to 350kph on an small runway is really something special.

Apart from your two teammates at McLaren, which three current F1 drivers do you rate the most?

This is always a difficult question and as we have two of the best at McLaren it’s even more difficult. I would say that the three other drivers at the top are Alonso, Vettel, and Massa.

You’ll be racing DTM again this season. How big a challenge would it be to jump in to an F1 car mid-season if one of the race drivers were unavailable?

It wouldn’t be easy but it never would be, no matter what you’ve been driving. I’d say that it would be easier for me than other reserve drivers because I am still driving and competing in a top series.

What are the key differences between DTM and F1 cars in terms of driving style and handling?

The biggest differences are the weight. A DTM car is nearly twice the weight of the F1 car and has about 250bhp less than the F1 car. Other than that there are no major differences. The DTM car produces a lot of downforce for a touring car and the wishbone suspension is similar to that found on single seater cars.

Finally, what would make 2010 a good year for Gary Paffett?

Obviously getting a chance to race the McLaren F1 car would be fantastic but that would need something bad to happen to one of the drivers so it’s not something I wish on either of them. I would like to be challenging for the title in DTM- hopefully win the championship- and help and be part of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes winning both constructors and drivers championships

Gary (directly below Jessica Michibata) celebrates Jenson's Aussie GP victory with the McLaren team. © McLaren Media.

Yeah. I first started following motorcycle racing- Grand Prix motorcycles and World Superbikes- and I was very interested in getting started in that. But my parents deemed it a little dangerous and steered me the way of go-karts and from there I started getting interested in Formula One.

How old were you when you started in karts?

Fourteen, so I started fairly late in karting terms. That was in junior TKM and I did a year and a half of that and then moved up to senior TKM

Tell me a bit about your karting career and then the move in to single-seaters.

As I said we started in TKM. In my first year in senior TKM we won the local club championship at Glan Y Gors and the following year, 2006, I won the British Open Championship, the first Welsh driver to win this cup.  I think I won it by two and a half seconds. I also competed in Super One that year, continued in 2007 and finished 8th overall. During that season we dovetailed the karting with some Formula Ford testing and for the last few round of Super One we were just turning up so as to maintain a top 10 placing.

What was it like driving a single-seater for the first time?

Stepping in to a Formula Ford, the first thing I noticed was the body roll, the extra weight behind me and the extra stopping distance. The acceleration and the speed weren’t really factors. It didn’t strike me at the time and still doesn’t now really. It was more that the car felt clumsy after racing go-karts, and it was clear that you needed a lot more finesse and precision when making that transition.

And so it was two years in Formula Ford?

Yeah, two years in Formula Ford. I started off with Myerscough College team at the beginning of 2008. Midway through the year we switched to Kevin Mills’ team. That year we won 7 races and had 13 pole positions. As you can tell from that poles to wins ratio we had a lot of incident. Some were mechanical but inexperience also played a part. So we finished 3rd in the scholarship class that year.

And then 2009….

We stayed with Kevin Mills. We’d wanted to challenge for the championship but I think there was a bit of immaturity from my side. I was still learning the ropes of the car racing world and the motorsport world in general so we had some ups and downs last year. I had a pole and a podium; I had some strong performances. But overall the end results weren’t what we’d hoped for. But I still learned a lot, and I think I showed great potential.

And for 2010 you’re looking to British F3?

Yeah, either the national or international class. We haven’t quite finalised our plans yet but we’re working on a couple of lines at the moment. We’re talking to a few teams and to a few business partners and it’s looking really promising for us to have a really good package and challenge for whichever championship we’re in.

Do you have a clear path of how you’d like to move through the categories?

The plan is for two years in Formula 3, two years in GP2 and then Formula One. But you’ve got to be flexible depending on what series is the one to be in. World Series by Renault or Formula Two might turn out to be the series to be in so you’ve got to be flexible. But that’s my aim at the moment. The plan was always two years for Ford, two years of F3, two years of GP2. That was the plan when we started looking at moving in to single-seaters. If I’m in F3 national next year I want to be champion and then top 5 in the international class the following year and then hopefully GP2. But I’m not thinking about that yet. I’m just looking to the first test.

GP2 is a very expensive series…

That’s right, but British F3 is an expensive series- any international motorsport is expensive so you’ve just got to race hard and raise the money. You can’t stop until you’ve raised the funding. The plan’s worked so far- I’ve done my two years of Formula Ford and now I’m looking to F3. You’ve just got to have that mentality.

How are you doing for sponsors?

No sponsors at the moment. I’ve had quite a bit in the past and we are working on this continuously but there’s no one right now.

There’s a lack of Welsh drivers moving through the junior categories. Do you think that’s linked to sponsorship? Wales doesn’t have big companies putting money behind drivers.

I think it is a funding issue, for sure. There’s certainly enough talented guys out there but I think there’s more participation in England- certainly in the Midlands- than there is in Wales. There are certainly some very talented guys but there’s no real commercial backing. I think in Wales, and the UK as a whole, there’s no recognition from the government side of it, there’s not so much support. I’ve read stories of the great support the Irish council gives its drivers and the same for Spain. These places seem to really get behind their drivers but in this country it seems to be more towards football, rugby and athletics.

The Argentine government have paid part of the money for Jose Maria Lopez’s USF1 drive!

Yeah, that’s right, Carlos Reuterman is pretty influential over there. If you’ve got some influential people high up it’s a lot easier. But I can’t see that happening with Wales. The assembly isn’t devolved enough to be putting that kind of funding behind someone.

What sort of physical training are you doing at the moment?

Well if you want to be an F1 driver you’ve got to train as hard if not harder than them, so yeah I train twice a day, six days a week. I’m working with a fitness trainer and a sports psychologist.

And are you up on the technical side of the sport?

Yeah, it’s 90% of the battle really, being up on the technical side and giving quality feedback to the engineers. It’s especially true in Formula One these days, with it being such a development race, and so in the lower formulae you have to prove yourself to be very good technically. It’s something i pride myself on- I regard myself as a good technical driver- and I think it’s something that gives me the edge in certain situations.

You’re obviously pretty committed to getting to Formula One but would you consider other forms of motorsport? Touring cars maybe?

There’s nothing else on the horizon at the moment but ultimately I want to be able to make a living out of racing. If I have to look at something else in the future maybe I would but at the moment I’m just looking at touring cars as a nice way to retire after Formula One!

What do you think separates you from the hundreds of other guys your age from across the world who want to make it to F1 in the next few years?

I think it’s my determination. I’m so single minded about what I want to do and I’m so determined to get there. I feel it, you know? If I can’t do this I don’t want to do anything. It’s my determination that’s going to get me there. And I understand what it takes. I’ve learnt a lot in the two years of Formula Ford about the dedication required and I’m putting that dedication in. Whether it’s getting to Formula One, getting to the Olympics or becoming a Premiership footballer you need to put in that hard work. You can have the talent but if you don’t channel it properly you wont get there. So it’s my determination that sets me apart.

Do you get a chance to watch much F1?

Yeah, if I’m not racing on the same weekend I follow it all. I really enjoy watching the practice sessions. You get more of an insight in to how the teams work and how they operate in testing. I think I prefer watching the practice sessions to watching the racing actually!

Anthony Davidson doing the practice sessions has been really good.

Yeah, with him being so switched on you get a really good insight in to how the driver thinks.

From the time you’ve been watching F1 which driver would you say you admire the most?

Well from my time watching F1 I’ve got to say the one who stands out is Schumacher. He’s so good at creating an environment in which he’s able to flourish. He did it at Ferrari and I think he’ll be able to do the same at Mercedes. He’s able to put the right people around him and make an environment that he feels comfortable in and who are singing from the same hymn sheet as him.

How do you think he’ll do this year?

I think he’ll do as well as ever. If the car’s up to it I think he can win and I think it’ll be interesting to see who’s going to be the quickest Mercedes driver between him and Rosberg. I think it’ll be Schumacher because, though he may be a few years older, he’s still got the determination he had when he was winning world titles. I can’t see anything having changed.

And he’s still very fit…

Yeah, he looks like he may even be fitter now! He’s had three years to work at it so he might be fitter than he was when he was last in F1.

Is there a driver from the whole history of the sport who you admire, Schumacher aside?

Prost is another one. I just admire how calculating he was when he raced. He was like the opposite of Senna in a way. He was so methodical and meticulous in his preparation and so calculating when he raced. I prefer that. It’s not the most entertaining swashbuckling style but from watching the old races you feel he was a master tactician.

So Prost vs Senna, you’d go for Prost?

Well my favourite driver of the two is Senna, but I admire the way Prost went about his racing. He maxmised his talent, perhaps more so than any other driver.

Obviously you just want to drive in F1, but is there one team that holds a particular appeal for you?

Ferrari. I’m not sure whether there’s a bit of an emotional link from being an emotionally charged Welshman to the emotionally charged Italians, but I just love Italian people, love the way they go about their business, love the country. And then I love Ferraris. I’ve always dreamed of driving a Ferrari road car and since I’ve been involved in motorsport I’ve dreamed of driving a Ferrari race car. So it’s got to be Ferrari.

Speaking of Ferrari, who do you think will have the edge there, Alonso or Massa?

I would have said Alonso if he’d gone there two years ago, but, although the Renault wasn’t up to much, I still thought he was disappointing last season, so I’ve got to say Massa really. I think in the same way Schumacher can put a good team around himself Massa has been able to do the same thing at Ferrari. And his accident, though terrible at the time, doesn’t seem to have done him any harm. He was able to get out of a bad car, go and recuperate, have a rethink and really focus on the 2010 season. Barring Schumacher I think he’s had the best preparation for 2010.

And the all-British line-up at McLaren?

I’m a Button fan. I like the story. Getting to F1 was quite straightforward for him but he’s had a real struggle from there, and I like guys who’ve struggled to make it to the top. I feel like it’s similar to what I’m going through. I’m having to struggle to get to the top, and hopefully I can. That said I think Hamilton over a lap is the faster driver and I’m not sure if Button has enough to beat him really. But I’m sure he’s got enough mental strength to live with the situation. I think he can get the team on his side and he’s very good technically so it’s going to be really close there. It depends on whether the new regs suit Button’s style.

Is there a driver whose style you think is similar to your own?

As a young driver my driving style in evolving. I’m constantly trying to change it for the better. If I see certain driver’s style and I think I like the way they drive the car I try to mould my style to be more like theirs. I really like the smooth drivers- the Buttons and the Prosts over the Sennas and the Hamiltons- the way they caress the cars around the track. That’s the style I like, and I think that’s the way you have to drive these modern cars. They don’t like being thrown in to corners and you have to be really smooth with them. Then having said that one of the most exciting drivers I’ve seen in F1 is Jean Alesi. The way he used to drive, particularly on street circuits, was amazing.

As a Brit, how do you feel about the return of the Lotus name to Formula One?

I think it’s fantastic that they’re coming back. Hopefully it can kick start an increased British interest. I hope they do best of the four new teams. Virgin have got their car finished quicker but they designed the whole thing with fluid dynamics as opposed to a windtunnel. It’ll be interesting to see how that goes on the track. If it works it could save teams a lot of money

Virgin are said to be working to a very small budget, in F1 terms. Do you think F1 needs to embrace cost cutting?

I think it’s the way forward really. The days of outlandish spending are over, at least until the economic world changes quite drastically. For Formula One to survive it has to cut costs.

With nearly all the manufacturer teams pulling out and new privateers coming F1’s going back to the way it was in the past, isn’t it?

Yeah, and I think it’s interesting. Those new teams might not be that stable, because they haven’t got a big corporation behind them, so we might see more teams coming and going over the next few years. But F1’s going back to its roots, which is good. But it’s always good to see the big manufacturers in racing, be it F1, Moto GP or rallying. It gives the teams more relevance to the real world.

Final question: if you won the lottery this week and had £8m burning a hole in your pocket would you buy yourself a seat at USF1, or would you stick to your plan?

I’d still go for British F3 this year! You’ve got to stick to your gameplan. If I won £8m it’d go in the bank and pay me right up to my final year of GP2.

As well as bringing the you first pictures of the new Lotus F1 car, Badger’s podcast producer and host was at the event and spoke directly with Tony Fernandes, Mike Gascoyne and ex-McLaren driver, Heikki Kovalainen about the challenges ahead of the new Lotus team and while Gascoyne is saying he’s feeling like a teenager, Fernandes expresses his opinion on F1 as a global sport.  List to the interviews below:

Download audio file (Lotus-F1-Launch.mp3)

Why the “British Ferrari” you may ask – well back in the day, Lotus were just like Ferrari in that they built fast road cars, always beautiful, always quick and of course, at the heart of both these companies was racing – it was the whole point of them existing in the first place – road going cars were simply a spin-off.  Unfortunately, come the mid-90s the Lotus name vanished from grand prix racing… seemingly forever, until now – with the Malaysian entrepreneur Tony Fernandes realising his dream of running a racing team and managing to bring back the Lotus name with full support of the Chapman family.  You can read more on the team in our series of “new” F1 teams here: Lotus to position themselves at the front?

Back to the big launch event – Below is a rather long video, with Tony Fernandes’ entire speech, followed by the launch of the car.

If you just want to see the actual launch bit, you can here: Crikey! – It’s the new Lotus

More images:

 

Flying Scotsman - Fran Richley

Following a chance meeting with World Champion co-driver Nicky Grist through his day job, Fran was encouraged by the rally man to take his art, which at that point had hung on his office wall, to a larger scale.

“As a Police Inspector, I have to confess that tackling the anti social use of cars in town was always going to be easier with someone of Nicky Grist’s energy and profile. During one of our many meetings Nicky pointed to a couple of police related paintings gracing my office wall and said ‘Who did those?’ When I explained the artwork was mine it seemed the most natural thing in the world to work together, to produce a tribute painting celebrating the life and career of the great Colin McRae. Nicky made all the relevant phone calls and I was on my way! I will always be grateful to him for his encouragement and support. It is true to say that I would not have reached the point I am at now without his help.”

The hand may be quicker than the eye, but it’s doubtful even Fran could paint this quickly. From his exhibition space in the heart of the WRC service park at Cardiff Bay, all is explained, seeing Fran working from a particularly striking photograph for a Red Bull commissioned portrait of Mark Webber. Impressed, it is suggested that he’s also a dab hand with a camera?

“No, I’m not a photographer by any stretch of the imagination. I do recall having one of those old, weird shaped, Kodak Brownie cameras when I was about ten but I never had the patience to get the film developed and always pulled it out to have a look or snapped the film by winding on too far. Also, I’m fortunate to have copyright permission from probably the best motorsport photographers in the world, McKlein Photography. I tend to use McKlein work as reference material for a lot of my rally based artwork and am even permitted to produce a direct reproduction of their outstanding photographs. In reality I probably change a few things even in a straight copy of the photograph, such as removing fencing, a lamppost or people, that kind of thing. I want the movement of the vehicle to be the central thing in my work.”

Commitment - Fran Richley

Given your day job, the aspect of copyright permission is probably quite important?

“I never just copy pictures from magazines without the proper permission as this practice lacks integrity, it is unlawful, particularly if the intention is to sell copies of the work. It is something McLaren Formula One actively challenges.”

They’re a bit renowned for doing things by the book aren’t they?

“Yes, I guess that’s true but I do know from my personal dealings with McLaren, that it’s an incredibly professional company with a desire for excellence in every aspect of its business. I like that approach: the “strive for excellence”. Their ethos strikes a chord with me and I particularly love the story of Lewis Hamilton’s rise to fame under the watchful eye and guidance of the company.”

Will this be something you’ll hope to develop into a commission someday?

“Since commencing action-art, it is a well known fact that I have been actively seeking permission from McLaren to paint one of their Formula One cars in action. This is no small achievement and I was excited to receive an e-mail only this week confirming that I have the team’s consent to produce a picture of the 2010 MP4-25 race car.”

That’s quite a feat, but it must mean you’re pretty busy these days?

“I am really busy at the moment with a number of new projects in the pipeline. I have also just received a commission from the Richard Burns Foundation to paint a picture of the late Richard Burns in action. I have deliberated long and hard about which car to feature and think that Burns fans are going to enjoy this one!”

Master Class - Fran Richley

Oh yeah, a Badger sneak peak?

“Fat chance, but top marks for trying! Unfortunately I always keep the work under wraps until it is nearing completion. At that point you may see me working on it at a show as people seem to love to watch me painting. I don’t like people seeing my work in its early stages though. I think it could be counter-productive if a person looked at the initial painting strokes and thought that they accurately reflected the finished picture. They may think it’s not very good. There’s a point at which my painting takes on a photographic quality. I genuinely can’t say when that happens but it’s the point I love when completing any piece of artwork. I’m not concerned if people see it after it’s reached that stage. In short, if the picture doesn’t make me imagine it driving off the page, as far as I am concerned it’s not ready for public viewing!”

It was worth a try, but with a percentage of the revenue going directly to the charity, Fran knows how to maximize the value of his art. For fans of motor sport, there’s encouragement in this man’s rise to success. In a few short years, action-art has become a real hit, netting Richley not just a small profit but the chance to meet some of the greatest and best from the world of motor sport. It must be hugely rewarding.

“On a personal level, this [action-art] has certainly provided me with a few memorable experiences; Linda (Fran’s wife) and I met Mark Webber at the Milton Keynes facility last year which was a little surreal and another highlight to date was unquestionably our visit to and tour of the McLaren Technology Centre. You could honestly eat your dinner off the floor in the area where the racecars are prepared. I never cease to be amazed that I can paint and it is a reminder to me that everyone is good at something, the secret is finding out exactly what it is you’re good at. Unfortunately there are too many people chasing dreams they’re never going to reach simply because they’re chasing the wrong dream.”

But you’re here at the WRC in Wales, has the rallying fraternity been as good to you?

“Well, another highlight has been an opportunity to experience a passenger ride in a couple of genuine WRC cars. The smell of the fuel inside one of those is nectar to any motor sport enthusiast and if you haven’t ever smelt it, put it on your list of things to do before you die! Seriously, yes it’s great to have new opportunities to mix with top level motor sport and its characters and I hope in the future will provide many more. But I love chatting to the motor sport fans at events like this too, there are a lot of knowledgeable people out there.”

At this point, it begins raining. Heavily. Taking the opportunity to shelter in the exhibition space, it’s all hands on deck for a few minutes as a particularly enthusiastic gust of wind tries to send some of Fran’s finest prints to the darkest depths of the bay. Catching one in mid-flight and turning it over in my hands, a particularly iconic image is revealed of Ari Vatanen’s 1981 championship winning car, co-driven by David Richards. The colours are immersive. You’ve been painting for a while then?

Glory Days - Fran Richley

“I must confess at the age of about 14, I came bottom in an art exam when I was studying at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School in Lancashire. I still have the actual report somewhere, which says, “If only Fran were as good at art as he is at playing the euphonium”. Sometimes I think it would be fun to go back with that report and some of my current work but I guess my art teacher has probably long retired now!”

Given the calibre of this artwork, it’s quite tricky to believe. So you weren’t a child prodigy?

“I am sure that I probably experimented on walls in the family home, reading books and all those other totally inappropriate places that kids seem to try out without any thought for the consequences! I do remember at the age of about 5 years old receiving one of those ‘magic’ painting books where you just add water and the picture colours itself. Not much skill involved there I know, but I guess such things help a person to learn which way the bristles of a paintbrush prefer to go. “

And so finally, with a fantastic mix of F1 cars and rally models on display, do you find much difference in the way you approach painting the vehicles? Is it more difficult to get a “normal” car to “lift off the page”, as you would put it and convey speed than a pure racing machine like the RB4?

“Once I have decided on the actual design, the approach I adopt to sketching out the initial idea and applying paint is the same whether I am producing an F1 or a WRC commission. That said, with rally cars, it is essential to get the angles spot on in order to convey the attitude of the car in motion. Adding tyre smoke, dust or spray in the latter stages of a painting is an integral element of my work and fun to do in the final stages before completion.”

Action-Art donates a percentage of all revenue to charity. So far, Fran has worked with organisations ranging from the ‘Colin McRae Vision Foundation’ to “Wings for Life” – Red Bull Racing’s dedicated spinal injury charity. Despite being privileged enough to have several pieces of work countersigned by drivers, Fran makes a point of never charging more for this artwork. It’s little surprise that the above photographs do small justice to imagery that has to be seen to be believed. Ours was a chance meeting at the WRC finals, yet it has left me in awe of a talent that could have gone undiscovered. If it has reinforced one idea, it’s that achieving a dream job in motor sport doesn’t have to follow the traditional routes. Fran’s journey is so close to the Badger ethos; he wanted something badly enough to just get on with it and achieve his dreams, the rewards have been endless and the people he continues to meet are fantastic. Fran Richley, the Badger salutes you.

Action Art | Wings For Life | Colin McRae Vision

What has been the reaction to the complex from the F1 teams during the race weekend?

The reaction from the teams was nothing short of spectacular. For me it was summed up by one engineer from the Ferrari crew who said “look, even the garages are air conditioned!”. The track and facilities set the bench mark for the rest to follow, and I hope the Abu Dhabi GP is on the F1 calendar for a long time.

Ferrari World has been described as a multi-sensory experience. Can you tell us a bit more about it?

Ferrari World is a Ferrari experience, it has elements of a theme park, such as roller coasters and an acceleration ride, but also a museum, a hall of fame, a kids driving school, etc… The overall experience will be one of the passion and emotion of Ferrari housed in an arena of entertainment.

Were you a Ferrari fan before you were involved in Ferrari World?

I have been passionate about design for as long as I can remember, and whether you are a car fan or not the Ferrari cars are a thing of beauty. The history of the Ferrari cars, the drivers, and the flaming red Rosso Corsa all go together to make a mesmerizing vision. So in short I guess the answer is yes!

What’s your favourite driver or team?

2009 has been a year of change, and this has transpired on the F1 scene as well. Who would have thought Brawn GP and Jenson button could come out of nowhere to win the constructors and drivers title in their first season. All hats off to them for their perseverance, 2010 will certainly be an interesting year as well for many teams and we hope to see Williams back on the front row soon. I have fond memories of Williams with Nigel Mansell during the 91/92 season and the Damon Hill Schumacher era during the 95/96 seasons with plenty of healthy rivalry and drama.

What’s your favourite car to drive, and what’s on your stereo?

At the moment I have a BMW 3 series coupe, I am not a fan of the BMW’s but my partner Kasia wanted one, and since I have started driving it I have fallen for it’s amazing stability and handling, a real drivers car. ?Kasia and myself share a car to work and we fight over the stereo, I have an eclectic mix of tracks from Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, David Gilmour and Eric Clapton, and she would rather have on something in the slightly more modern era!

Which party did you go to during the race weekend, and who did you meet?

During the race weekend I was looking after some of the bosses of our firm so there was not much time for relaxing, but we managed to get to the British Embassy Dinner where we met Jackie Stewart who was there to celebrate the successes of the British Motor Sport Industry. He is a very good speaker, and has a big passion for British Motor Sport, keep Silverstone alive! We also went to the Beyonce concert, which was held in the southern tri-form of the Ferrari World building on the first night of the race weekend, I am currently looking at how to turn that into a permanent concert venue.

Are there any funny stories from Yas Marina that you can share with the readers?

Actually there are two… I have a legendary ability to fall asleep if I stop moving around, as I am a little bit hyper, and we have had a 3 year build up to the grand prix, so when I finally sat down to watch the race I actually fell asleep half way through in all the noise of the cars! And the other story is actually a really nice one, there is an Architect called Karolina who was working for Benoy on the Masterplan for Yas Island in our London office, and I grabbed her for the Ferrari World team, the first chance I could. She moved out to Abu Dhabi working with us at Yas Island, met the guy running the MEP (Mechanical Electrical Plumbing) design, fell in love, moved back to Poland and are now having a baby. I like to think I had a hand in that! We wish them the best for the future. Na zdrowie!

What’s it like living in Abu Dhabi, and what do you miss the most about the UK -food or weather?

I grew up in the UK not far from London, and then worked in London most of my life until now. I definitely miss the rain, it’s very hot and humid in Abu Dhabi during July and August, and even after being here a while it is difficult to deal with, something like summer blues! From London I miss the cultural diversity and the depth of the city, there is always something going on in London, in Abu Dhabi you really have to dig for things to do and have to know the local scene.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to do your job?

It won’t make you rich, it is lots of long hours and late nights, and it is generally thankless. Apart from all that I absolutely love it! Anything that is to do with being creative is generally very satisfying, we get to work with some of the best teams in the world, delivering some of the best projects. Now that’s not bad. My advice to anyone who wants to do my job is learn to draw (not on a computer!), learn to experiment (its all about coming up with creative ideas to solve problems), learn from yourself (you need to understand what makes you tick, Architecture is not a 9-5 job and it needs to be part of your passion to enjoy it), have fun at what you do, if you don’t like it, then change!

What can a visitor to Yas Island expect?

To be amazed!

Ferrari World will be open for business in August 2010. For all you Ferrari fans out there, you should start booking your travel tickets soon, as the Yas Island Centrepiece promises to be quite a spectacle!