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These days when I watch the Formula One, my
loyalties are quite split. I have grown over the years to love
pretty much most of the grid. However there was a time when
my heart belonged to one team, and one team only: McLaren.
Ron Dennis, Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard
were quite simply my heroes, and everyone else were the enemy.
In that team I had a favourite, and that was DC. My passions
at this point in my life were so strong that I quite often got
myself in trouble (not intentionally) by shouting out obscenities
at the screen, especially when watching abroad. On one occasion
I was in the Canary Islands watching the French Grand Prix in
a German bar, looking like a McLaren threw up on me (hat and
t shirt in 37 degree heat), when DC was being held up by a certain
German driver, and finally passed him flicking him the finger
and displaying other hand gestures. I jumped up, shouting "Go
on DC!", and then a mouth full of not so pleasant insults
at the certain German driver. Needless to say, my poor sister
and friend had to pull me out of that bar rather sharply, before
I got pounced on!
The first time I actually got to attend a Grand
Prix was for my 30th birthday, as a present from a friend. I
went to Spa in 2004, so excited to see the cars for real and
watch DC race in his last season for McLaren, as it had already
been announced that Montoya would take his place the next season
(yeah, that was a great hire there Uncle Ron). DC crashed his
car right in front of me (how rude!), so at least I got to climb
over the huge fence and collect a little piece of his car!
Anyway, DC should have won a world title; he's
the current highest British point scorer (although probably
not for long), he has a brilliant mind, and a great sense of
humour. He's a great driver, who never should have been the
"almost guy". 'Bad luck' was his middle name for many
years, and for many years I suffered and celebrated with his
wins and misfortunes. The guy who was British when he won, and
Scottish when he lost. The guy that will always remain one of
my favourite drivers, and for me, has become the highlight of
the BBC F1 coverage.
DC, I Salute you.
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