Flashback: Chris Rea's birthday recording for Rubens Barrichello

He may have been a prolific rock star, but Chris Rea preferred quiet anonymity. Not for him the outrageous clothes and outlandish comportment exhibited by many of his ilk. Paradoxically, there was nowhere better for the gravel-voiced Englishman to keep a low profile than at the Monaco Grand Prix, particularly when dressed in Jordan team gear.

The alliance between Rea and Eddie Jordan had been a natural one as they shared a love of motor sport and music. While Monaco may have been the social climax of Jordan’s season, it allowed Rea to escape the pressures of his business as he merged easily within the team’s relaxed environment. Or, at least, that was the plan in May 1993.

At the last minute, Jordan had leaned on Rea to perform at a Marlboro dinner in return for Eddie securing a table for his sponsors at this prestigious function. Rea may have accepted the gig as collateral damage that came with receiving a pit pass, but he was more than happy to make a musical contribution to a special celebration on race day.

Rubens Barrichello’s first visit to Monaco as a Formula 1 driver would coincide with his 21st birthday. If the Brazilian had hoped to keep the occasion reasonably quiet to allow full focus on such an important race, the Jordan team had other ideas. Rea had gone to the trouble of assembling his band a few weeks before and making a special recording of Happy Birthday, sung to a Latin rhythm.

As Barrichello emerged from the drivers’ briefing on race morning, the song burst forth on the public address system, accompanied by birthday greetings displayed on a huge screen mounted on the rockface overlooking the harbour. With his coming of age now public knowledge, a stunned Barrichello was greeted by well-wishers as he made his way along the pitlane.

Thinking he might find sanctuary in the team’s motor home, Rubens was just as surprised to find that Louise Goodman, Jordan’s press and PR officer, had been at work there too. It seemed half the paddock – including rival team boss, Gérard Larrousse, who shared the same birthday – had turned up to offer congratulations.

The picture shows the arrival of Barrichello, followed (in the white shirt) by his father (also called Rubens – with the same birthday!). Having presented ‘Rubinho’ (little Rubens) with a copy of the recording, Rea stands quietly to one side and savours a moment that is clearly just as enjoyable to the singer as it is to an F1 driver half as old and half as famous.