Derek Warwick: My life in cars

My family car as a child…

The first I remember was a Vauxhall Cresta. When I was 12 my Uncle Stan would go to sleep in the back of his Jaguar, and I’d sit on a cushion and drive him to Shepton Mallet where we were building a new factory. I did that almost every day for six months, never went to school. And I drove our Thames Trader artic to Bridgend. I’d jump out at the Severn Bridge and Stan drove it over.

My first road car…

That was a red Reliant Robin, inset below, when I was 16 because motorcycles were a no-no in our family. I thrashed that thing and it was worth nothing by the time I’d finished with it. I was racing stock cars and driving a Reliant Robin, which was so, so embarrassing. Not really the image I wanted.

I was hooked on motor racing when…

I was 17 and I started winning in Superstox and won the world championship. I’d raced karts before that but I didn’t really get the buzz until I started beating Nelson Piquet in F3 and then I began to think I could one day be a Formula 1 driver.

My first ever win was…

In karting when I was 12 but that was easy for me because I’d been learning car control on grass for years round our big fields. So my first really meaningful win was in Superstox – races and championships as a teenager.

The win I remember the most was…

For me, the biggest ‘win’ was when I first drove a grand prix car out onto a circuit. I’d worked so hard for that for so many years. Easter weekend 1976 was very special, racing a Hawke DL15 in Formula Ford at three circuits over three days – Thruxton, Snetterton and Mallory Park. I won everything. I was unbeatable in that car.

If I could race in any era…

It would be my era. We had ground effects, sliding skirts, 1300bhp in qualifying, one-lap tyres, 26 on the grid, no social media, big noise, full-on racing. You really had to hang on to the car. It was a great time to be a racing driver. Ask anyone who raced them.

The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given was…

“Never look back”. Always focus on the future, not the past. Forget all the bad choices, the disappointments, the missed opportunities and learn from them. If you give 100%, and you don’t look back, then you can focus and move forward.

My favourite racing car is…

Ross Brawn’s Silk Cut Jaguar XJR-14, below. It’s a lovely little car, very compact, so beautiful to look at, and to drive. This was one of the fastest sports cars I’ve ever raced and it still looks great today.

When driving I listen to…

Music. I always have the radio on when I’m driving, and the 1980s is my favourite. Great times, great music.

If I could take part in one more big race it would be…

One more race – it would have to be in a Red Bull Formula 1 car at Monaco. I love Monaco. I’ve always loved that circuit. It requires massive commitment, and to drive there in such a superior car would just be absolutely amazing.

Sprint race…

Lewis or Max?
Lewis.

Senna or Prost?
Senna.

Oversteer or understeer?
Reluctantly understeer.

Brands Hatch or Silverstone?
Brands Hatch.