Tandy, Barker and Webster: issue 126 driver columns
Nick Tandy – the factory driver:
Compared to the likes of football, rugby and tennis, motor racing is a sport where, even when you are considered successful, it is likely you will lose more than you will win.
After all, only one driver or car can top the podium at each race. However, even with that knowledge, it never makes it any easier to deal with defeat.
As many of my friends often remind me, I’m a hugely competitive person – I think a lot of us are at Porsche Motorsport – and that means I want to win every event I compete in, and I was really confident heading into the 12 Hours of Sebring this year.
Ever since we left Florida in 2014, we haven’t had the rub of the green as a team, and so I really did feel it was Porsche North America Racing’s time to head back to the victory lane. The simple law of averages says that with the pace we are showing in the GTLM class, we are overdue a win.
With 11 hours of the race gone at Sebring, it really looked like we were about to break our run of poor luck as we were running first and second.
Ben Barker – the Supercup superstar:
Coffee. It’s incredible what can happen over a cup of the stuff. I’m sure you’ve all met someone important, or had your own moment of inspiration, while sipping on the black gold.
Coffee plays a big part in my life; I’d like to think I’m something of a connoisseur when it comes to cortados, flat whites, espressos and the like. Therefore it was fitting that last year, it was over a cup of coffee that I was introduced to the man who has now become my new manager.
However, he likes to stay out of the limelight. Tubbs, as we all know him, runs the London-based chain of coffee shops, Sacred. His café and coffee business has been going from strength to strength over the last few years though he wanted to get back involved with his other passion: the motorsport scene.
Back in the day he was manager for World Superbike ace Aaron Slight. In 2010, Sacred Coffee became a partner of the Carrera Cup GB before I agreed to become a brand ambassador for them last season.
Before you start wondering how this relates to my racing, don’t worry; it’s all about to become apparent.
Josh Webster – the Carrera Cup champion:
The official test and media day is always an exciting annual event to mark the start of the season. The Porsche Carrera Cup GB Official Test Day was held at Silverstone on 17 March and it was a really good experience, brilliantly put together by the Porsche GB Motorsport Team.
We were able to invite our sponsors to the test day, which was based in the BRDC Clubhouse. It was really nice for our guests to see the inside of the Clubhouse, which houses some amazing motorsport memorabilia and historic items as well as having a fantastic view of the circuit.
It’s a very special place and although I have been privileged to be a Rising Star Member of the BRDC since 2011 and visit often, guest passes are very exclusive, so it was so nice to know that all my guests were able to enjoy the day in the iconic building.
All the drivers got together for the start-of-the-year photograph and it was great to see all the different car liveries; I have to say all the cars look great. My livery is once again based on my headline sponsor Nine Group’s corporate colours of purple, white and grey, but the design is different and the feedback was that everyone really loved it.
To read all three of our racers’ columns in full, make sure you pick issue 124 in store now. Alternatively order your copy online or download to your digital device here.
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