I I artin Brundle is striding along a packed grid at the San Marino Grand Prix looking for the most elu- sive man in Formula One. 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 It l. 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 Bernie Ecclestone, 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 Martin Brundle 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 British Grand Prix, 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 Gerhard Berger 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 James Allen, 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, Murray Walker. Walker has had many co-commentators over the years - most famously, James Hunt - 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," *{ { ,,r{*i:!*iq$i! 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 Formula Three, something with Martin that I've never had: used-car business in Norfolk - 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 Ayrton Senna. 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 Mark Blundell, to being the new voice a letter to Tom Walkinshaw, 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.