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artin Brundle is striding along a packed grid at the Grand Prix looking for the most elu- sive man in . Wearing headphones and carrying a rcd-topped microphone, he urges his cameraman Keith to quicken his pace and watch out for their prey. "We call him 'The Bolt' rvhen he's not around savs $ - 'Bernie The Bolt'," Brundle I of his rarget, filling in time while he keenlr sur- $ r e1 s r he track. "But u c call him 'Sir' to his face." I t

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T n' &hr *{ &i, Seconds later he has a firm hand on the It is a good-natured exchange, and there's such celebrities as Liz Hurley and Sylvester shoulder ofhis reluctant interviewee, and he's obvious mutual respect. But from the expres- Stallone Brundle has shown admirable com- ('So not letting go. what do you think oftoday's sions flashing across Ecclestone's face, he's posure. He is articulate and authoritative. He Formula One drivers no, really," he asks a clearly not used to such interrogation, espe- is camera-confident and looks like he is enioy- nervous-looking , presi- cially from a commentator working for a com- ing himself. He is candid and talks sense. Part dent ofthe FIA (the sport's governing body) pany to which Ecclestone g::ants the broadcast of the fascination may be waiting to see if he and the man who exerts an almost autocratic licence. These are things you do not say to dries up, messes up or falls flat on his face, influence over the sport. Ecclestone is a rich your ultimate boss. It's like a junior cabinet but most viewers seem to find him amiable and powerful presence in F1, but rarely grants minister taking the rise out of Tony Blair. and engaging. Brundle has shown a sang- interviews. Brundle is forcing him to address Brundle goes on to charm Ecclestone's froid way beyond his broadcast years. a live audience approaching six million. daughter (in view ofa very protective father) "I'm comfortable with the camera and ttConservative," says a staccato Ecclestone. and his beautiful Croatian ex-model wife, microphone because I stared at them long Brundle presses him. "Out of the car, I mean. before handing back to Jim Rosenthal in the enough when I was a driver," says Brundle, We're lacking characters like you. You were ITV studio. "Brave fellow, Martin," says who raced in sports cars and F1 for almost a bit wild and mad and outspoken, and dri- Rosenthal, in almost hushed and reverential 18 years. "And now I don't owe anybody any- vers are not like that any more." Brundle is tones. "You're a brave fellow down there." thing, so I can say what I think when I think unmoved by the false flattery. He is on to his it. I don't depend on the TV work to eat and next question. "You're a very rich man, give Gandid eamera put my kids in clothes, and that gives me an or take a million. What are you saving forl" Whether he was in fact mad or bad as a dri- advantage. I can wing it and push my luck." As Ecclestone shuffles his feet and tries to ver is a matter of conrecture, but one thing Brundle is being disingenuous, because deflect the question, Brundle hits him with is for certain: the live pre-race grid walk has many sportsmen over the years have failed, his final one-liner. "So it's not reincarnation put on the TV sports per- often lamentably, to make the transition from then, Bernie or something like that." sonality map. First broadcast during the player to pundit. Yet the former Fl driver, 1997 , his unscripted and the man who won the 1988 World Sports

BACK-SEAT DRIVER ln 1983, below, stroll along the track has seen Brundle nego- Car Championship, must now be added to Brundle was overshadowed in F3 by Ayrton tiate challenges that would have floored the select group of athletes who are as com- Senna. The same happened nine years later as many more experienced broadcasters. manding reporting on their sport as they were Schumacher's F1 team-mate, below right During an interview rn'ith playing it. at last year's Argentinian Grand Prix, Brundle "Perhaps his greatest quality as a broad- SENNAANDI was interrupted by a playful Michael caster is his use of idiomatic English," says HAD Schumacher, who promptly had his cap , ITV's pit reporter. He has an INCREDIBLE swiped offfor his troubles. ApproachingEddie ability to put technical issues into the lan- RACINGFIGHTS. Irvine a few minutes later, he was greeted, guage you hear down the pub, language that HALFONTHE characteristically, with a dismissive: "What everyone can understand," says James Allen, do you rvant, then?" "I want to ask you some ITV's pit-lane reporter. "He once explained GRASS. HALFON questions on behalf of the British public," G-force [the extreme gravitational pull exerted on a driver cornering at speed] as 'the THETRACK force that makes your granny swap seats in the back ofa car'. It was absolutely perfect." Also crucial to Brundle's success has been fr.W the unexpected chemistry between him and -ffi the grand master of Grand Prix commen- tary, . Walker has had many co-commentators over the years - most famously, - but not all have had the skill or humility to work with, rather than against, his very idiosyncratic.talents. Battle with him for microphone space and a pundit will lose out - the sheer volume (in all senses) of Walker's output is compelling - and he, after all, is the lead commentator. came Brundle's reflex retort. And while Disrespect or talk over him, as you often felt everyone was trying to get a word with Mika Hunt was tempted to do, and the viewer will Hakkinen before the start of 1998's decisive be entertained but confused - the commen- Grand Prix at Suzuka, it was Brundle who tary pulls two ways at once. Come on like a bagged the last-minute interview with the clever dick or a petrolhead and the tone will driver who went on to be World Champion. be allwrong-andanyway, Walkerhas enough Throughout these broadcasts be they Grand Prix trivia up his sleeve to fill out the z - o F with recalcitrant drivers, tight-lipped team most delayed ofrestarts or predictable ofraces. F l bosses, glamorous grid girls, and even with "Martin is the best partner I've ever had," *{ {

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says Walker. 'James Hunt was an outstand- Glose, but no cigar the international racing circuit, got a full drive ing personality, but Martin is a better com- Brundle's motor-racing career is a classic case with Walkinshaw the next year, and worked mentator - a bloke with the driver's point of of unrealised potential. Born into a motoring his way quickly through the Grand Prix ranks. view at his fingertips, and who can explain it family-his fatherwasarallydriver, hismother Aficionados still talk with awe of Brundle's authoritatively and entertainingly. I have competed in autocross, and the couple ran a breakthrough 1983 season in , something with Martin that I've never had: used-car business in - he sold his in which he duelled with fire, ferocity and eye contact. We talk to each other instead of first car at the age ofeight, built his first racer much success against a brilliant young gun talking to the public through each other, and at 12, and started competing in it soon after. from Brazil named . that communicates a kind of togetherness." Finding school "very easy" (he went on to "We had the most incredible racing fights Walker's views are indicative of the way get a dozen O-levels and a distinction in busi- and accidents," says Brundle. "We both just Martin Brundle has made his presence felt in ness studies), he spent most ofhis teenage went for it, trying impossible passing moves, TV commentary. He has gone from being the years either in the garage or on the race track. halfon the track and halfon the grass, and man who many confused with fellow British His break came in 1979 when he fired off we were often called to the steward's office driver , to being the new voice a letter to , then running a for dangerous driving. It's amazing we both of F1, and now the prime-time presenter of BMW sports car championship featuring came out ofthat season unscathed." such ITV shows as Great Escapes and Qtest high-fliers such as future F1 champion Alan Although Senna, perhaps the most gifted for Speecl. Ironically, it has also made him Jones. "I wrote something like, 'Dear Mr and ruthless driver of the modern era, went better known than he ever was as a driver. Walkinshaw, I'm going to be a top racing dri- on to clinch the F3 championship from "I seem to be more highly regarded after ver. Can I drive one of your BMWs in the Brundle in the last race ofthe season, Brundle two years in TV than I was during 12 years Norfolk round of the championship?"' says had made his mark. He was signed by Tyrrell f in a Grand Prix car - which makes me very Brundle. "He must have liked it because he for his debut Fl season. Scoring two points 1 lucky, but in a way doesn't really please me," Bave me a test, I got the drive and had a barn- in his first race and getting on the podium in I says Brundle. "It's as if m1 racing career was storming race, finishing second by a nano." his seventh, finishing inches behind reign- 3 an apprenticeship for my TV commentating." Brundle was catapulted overnight on to ingWorld ChampionNelson Piquet, Brundle X 9+ t^qub€ APRIL 1999 lvas heralded as one of the most promising was that he was again up against a prodi- career with , Mclaren and Jordan, Fl talents in years. At the eighth race ofthe gious driving talent: that of his team-mate, and in 1996 survived an horrific 180mph 1984 season in Dallas, however, he had the 23-year-oid . He fared crash at Melbourne: Brundle's car somer- first of his man1, Grand Prix misfortunes. badly at first, but improved throughout the saulted into the air before disintegrating on "I went off the track, hit the wall three times season, occasionally beating Schumacher impact. But his moment had passed; he had and smashed up my feet," explains Brundle. and coming sixth in the championship. become the Nearly Man of Formula One. "The hospital wanted to chop offmy left foot, Before the season ended he had two fur- "Martin never had a golden-boy image, or but [F I doctor] Professor stopped ther setbacks. First Benetton dropped Brun- some mystique ot razzrnatazz," says Damon them and got me back to . It took dle in favour ofRiccardo Patrese, then he lost Hill, a close friend. "He was perhaps too close about a month but they found enough bits a promised drive with Williams, the team to home - he never moved to Monte Carlo." and pieces to screw my foot back together." which had \{on the 1992 championship with It is true that Brundle never had any sense of Out for the season, and further set back . At 33, he r,vas at the peak of renegade glamour or danger about him. He by Tyrrell being banned for alleged fuel his powers. He had shown bravery and deter- preferred to staJr at home near King's Lynn irregularities, Brundle never seemed to fully mination. He was admired by the mechanics with his wife Liz, a local girl he met in his recover his form. In the late Eighties he for his disciplined approach to driving. He teens, and their two children, rather than move switched teams every season. He stopped was a great tactician, maybe even a driver's to the tax-free playboy world ofMonaco. And being a winner. The likely lad had become driver. But he failed to get the big break, to he never seemed, as Senna and Schumacher the driver least likely to score points. And be in the right place at the right time. repeatedly did, to quite take a Formula One in 1990 he stepped out ofFl aitogether. "I was a rock-solid driver, the sort who car to the ragged edge, to produce that sin- Winning that year set his career scored points, who was good technically, and gle extra-fast lap or inspired passing manoeu- back on the front of the grid. In 1992 he could get involved at a management level and vre that elevates a driver into the super-league. returned to F1 with Benetton, one of that help run a team," says Brundle now. "But I "I have always felt invincible in sports cars," season's top teams, where Tom Walkinshaw guess I ll,as never a must-have driver." says Brundle. "But I failed to deliver what I was engineering director. The only catch He drove out the last four years of his was capable of behind the r,vheel of a Formula

APRIL 1999 t^quift 95 electricity and emotion of Fl. Finally, after selling cars, his driving ability and his bene- fit to any team, he has begun to sell himself. "The grid walk is the one thing I've found since I stopped driving that gives me an adren- aline rush," says Brundle. "Like all sports people, I'm hooked on adrenaline. My idea of fear used to be driving at 210mph in the pouring rain at Hockenheim. Now it's when I hear them say, 'Cue Martin on the grid. . . "' He's found success by allowing his per- sonality to emerge. Not only has he gone on to front two prime-time TV series, but he is now involve d in a dizzyrng array of busi- ness interests. He runs, with his brother, five car dealerships in Norfolk; he is a direc- tor of the British Racing Drivers' Club, which owns and controls Silverstone; he writes a column (admittedly ghosted) for the Express andAutlsport; and he does voice- during last year's only to overs for PlayStation Fl games. In 1997 he FEAR USED be told he was in a meeting with MickJagger. was a director and occasional for TO BE DRIVING And, unlike Murray Walker, who is in the Arrows; this year, in addition to managing commentary box an hour early to prepare Coulthard's affairs, he has done promotional AT21OMPH himself, Brundle often turns up (as James work for Mclaren, driving their two-seater IN THE POURING Hunt did) just minutes before . F1 car around Silverstone. He is now the RAINAT He has the demeanour of a driver because natural successor to Murray Walker, ready he still races. He likes his speedy boy's toys: for the day the 74-year-old finally retires. . HOCKENHEIM' he has a helicopter; six cars, including a "When my dad died a couple of years ago, 550 and aJagtar XKS convert- it set me on a different course," says Brundle. ible; and Ducati and BMW motorbikes. He "He was 59, 20 years older than I am, and I has competed in the past two Le Mans races, think, 'Live for today, boy.' I have a great and has a clause in his ITV contract that allows life, I set my own agenda, and I've never been One car because I used to let the pressure get him to sit out an F1 commentary if it clashes so successful I turn down jobs every week, to me a little bit. Confidence is an intangible with the 24-how race in June. If commit- and I hope I don't say that with arrogance. thing and I never got on the crest ofa wave." ments allow, he also races in the Network Q And I get abtzz ottt of everything I do." believes Brundle was a lot RAC Rally. "I'm doing Le Mans because I better driver than he ever got credit for. "He need to drive," he said before the 1997 race. And finally... was at least as good as fGerhard] Berger, but "I've been a racing driver for 25 years and I And that would be it: Martin Brundle, ex- Berger earned $100 million and Brundle did iust can't give that up. Fun races wouldn't racing driver made good. Yet there is one not," says Irvine. "Brundle was never fash- satisfy me; I am a competitive person." last episode. The day after I interview ionable, and Fl is about fashion. Coming That competitive spirit has fuelled his Brundle at Monza, I bump into him by the from Norfolk can't help. Whenever you work as a commentator. During his first sea- ITV studio. mention Norfolk, turkeys springs to mind." son in 1997, it made him a little resentful; "It didn't come across as all negative, did his commentary lacked warmth and nuance. it?" he asks, referring to our chat. "It was Wheeler dealing Spurned by Jordan, he was often heard crit- moody, but there were some good things too, As with the boy from Romford, Johnny icising that team's inexperienced young- weren't there?" I reassure him. Brundle is Herbert, there is a very ordinary Englishness sters, and Giancarlo not a man naturally given to self-reflection about Martin Brundle. He is the kind of man Fisichella. He has admitted that he felt rail- - he is a doer not a thinker, and bright rather who wears reflective sunglasses (even during roaded into the ITV job: "I felt they had than intelligent - but he was honest and our interview), the collar up on his ITV polo eased me out of F1 a year or two early." thoughtful about his career and motivations. shirt, and his Versace jeans with the leather Since then, however, he has seemed more It is a revealing exchange'nonetheless. label showing prominently over his belt. at ease with himself and has begun to exploit Because for all Martin Brundle's front and You sense that he still likes to live, albeit his natural talents. His inside knowledge has unflappability, there remain cracks in his vicariously these days, the driver's life. At often resulted in him predicting mechanical seemingly unerring self-confidence. What Grands Prix he is a more likely to be found and tactical developments way before they he doesn't realise is this: those doubts may in the Mclaren motor home largeing it in happen. He has built up a gentle way of cor- have hindered him as a driver, but as a broad- F d his role as 's business man- recting Walker's occasional inaccuracies ("I caster they may just make him. @ ager than hanging around the more down- think you'll find, Murray..."). And he has ITV's F I cooeroge crntinues with the Brazilian at-heel TV compound. I asked to see him learntto emote, to communicate allthe energy, Crand, Prix on I0/ I I April 96 t^qntr- APRIL 1999