Interview with Damon Hill
Mark Forsyth talks to the former champ, now BRDC president
You’ve just accepted the job as president of the BRDC. What were you thinking? Was your life too peaceful?
(Laughs) Good question. First of all it was an honour to be elected. I felt they hadn’t been fantastic at explaining precisely the work they do and that perhaps I could help communicate the positives a little more strongly. It’s also too easy to criticise them and I saw this as an opportunity to do something, hopefully, beneficial for all. I don’t like to see people fighting amongst themselves, either. It's a political challenge more than anything else.
So what exactly is your role? It's more an ambassadorial role. And it’s obviously a challenging position because the members are also competitors (wry smile).
So what’s Bernie like to play poker with? (Laughs) Bernie? It’s too easy for people to be critical of Bernie as well. The best solution for the Grand Prix, the BDRC, Silverstone and Bernie is the one that suits every party.
If you were Bernie wouldn’t you engineer Silverstone’s demise so you could step in and pick up the pieces at a bargain price? There’s a wish or a desire for F1 venues to be more… (pauses to find the right word) monumental. We are caught between what Formula 1 would like and what we can afford. And Bernie is a promoter, not a circuit owner.
Except for Paul Ricard… Yes, but that’s different, Ricard is a private test venue blessed with constant sunshine.
Is public investment a possibility to safeguard F1 at Silverstone? We’ve got a very vibrant democracy in this country and there’s probably no way the electorate would stand for a government spending money on a sport perceived to be already awash with cash. But the question of future investment is still open for debate.
You looked like you’d seen one press conference to many at the DTM press conference ten minutes ago. Is this just another reason why you retired from racing? No, no. I was just listening intently (laughs). There’s a very obvious relationship between the BRDC and the young British drivers in DTM. I attended the test and I’m looking forward to the race at Brands Hatch but I’m here with my BRDC hat on - supporting young British talent, not with an eye to returning to racing. I’ve been very lucky in my career but when you’re racing a light comes on that tells you to stop and you stop. I’m just not prepared to take those risks again.
What was it like to be back behind the wheel of a racecar in your Brands Hatch DTM test? They feel like big cars once you’re inside but they’re certainly fast. I heard the other drivers predicting 40-second laps of the Indy circuit but I don’t think I got close to that (laughs). In fact I’d be surprised if I got anywhere near the Formula Ford lap record.
Have you been asked to compete in the Grand Prix Masters series? No, I haven’t, but apparently I’m six months too young by their rules.
