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6th
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I've been covering auto racing for a really long time now. Over the years, I've done some freelance work, press releases, project supervision, print magazine editing, as well as colour commentary on TV and radio.
Of course, I've driven my fair share of cars, including all levels of karting, road and ice courses, and in various other settings. This allowed me to race against several current and future stars.
The thing I love the most about my job is the unique opportunity to test drive some of the most advanced and expensive race cars in the world. In the upcoming year, I'll tell you all about these memorable experiences.
Without a doubt, the most exhilarating time I had was behind the wheel of an actual F1 car (not a mere F1 chassis with a Formula 3000 engine). Believe it or not, I drove a Larrousse Ford HB V8 at Magny-Cours in France. Five laps that defied all logic with breathtaking acceleration and impossibly forceful braking manoeuvres.
The most stressful test drive was that of a Tattus from Formula Renault V6. It happened in Barcelona, right in the midst of an official practice session! Imagine driving a car you don't know on a track you're barely familiar with, having to brake with your left foot while getting passed by a number of mad drivers - and in the rain to boot!
I've also driven an authentic, rally-winning Peugeot 206T16 on an ice track in Sherbrooke, Quebec, surrounded by walls of ice as hard as concrete. It was a tremendous honour and feeling to drive such a legendary car. You wouldn't believe the power its small turbocharged engine produced.
From a technical standpoint, I fondly remember the Van Diemen Formula 2000 car from Key Motorsport, which is normally assigned to Marc-Antoine Camirand. This was an actual aerodynamic test at high speeds on the huge PMG speedway north of Montreal. We had to assess the car's behaviour and top speed without any aerodynamic aid. I managed to reach a commendable 229 km/h... without a front wing.
What else? Oh yeah, I had the privilege of driving Marcus Grönholm's race-spec Peugeot 307 WRC. That car was so easy to spin, yet so difficult to exploit. The flexibility of the engine left me speechless.
If you want to learn more about these cars and others, including my savoury anecdotes, come back here regularly over the next few months.
Of course, I've driven my fair share of cars, including all levels of karting, road and ice courses, and in various other settings. This allowed me to race against several current and future stars.
The thing I love the most about my job is the unique opportunity to test drive some of the most advanced and expensive race cars in the world. In the upcoming year, I'll tell you all about these memorable experiences.
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| Larrousse Ford HB V8 (photo: René Fagnan) |
Without a doubt, the most exhilarating time I had was behind the wheel of an actual F1 car (not a mere F1 chassis with a Formula 3000 engine). Believe it or not, I drove a Larrousse Ford HB V8 at Magny-Cours in France. Five laps that defied all logic with breathtaking acceleration and impossibly forceful braking manoeuvres.
The most stressful test drive was that of a Tattus from Formula Renault V6. It happened in Barcelona, right in the midst of an official practice session! Imagine driving a car you don't know on a track you're barely familiar with, having to brake with your left foot while getting passed by a number of mad drivers - and in the rain to boot!
I've also driven an authentic, rally-winning Peugeot 206T16 on an ice track in Sherbrooke, Quebec, surrounded by walls of ice as hard as concrete. It was a tremendous honour and feeling to drive such a legendary car. You wouldn't believe the power its small turbocharged engine produced.
From a technical standpoint, I fondly remember the Van Diemen Formula 2000 car from Key Motorsport, which is normally assigned to Marc-Antoine Camirand. This was an actual aerodynamic test at high speeds on the huge PMG speedway north of Montreal. We had to assess the car's behaviour and top speed without any aerodynamic aid. I managed to reach a commendable 229 km/h... without a front wing.
What else? Oh yeah, I had the privilege of driving Marcus Grönholm's race-spec Peugeot 307 WRC. That car was so easy to spin, yet so difficult to exploit. The flexibility of the engine left me speechless.
If you want to learn more about these cars and others, including my savoury anecdotes, come back here regularly over the next few months.