Motor Sport Magazine Podcast

For over 50 years, Dick Bennetts has been central to some of racing's greatest stories.From giving Ayrton Senna his famous Formula 3 break, to communicating engineering feedback via hand signals with young prodigy Mika Häkkinen, and gaining respect for Nigel Mansell through his spectacular touring car cameos, Bennetts has lived and breathed motor sport through some of its most thrilling moments.In the final installment of Engineering the Greats series 2, in association with Scalextric, Bennetts gives true insight into the link between driver and engineer.Now a stalwart of the BTCC, the New Zealander also talks about what makes the series great, analyses the respective styles of his superstar drivers Colin Turkington and Jake Hill as well as explaining what he would do to make the championship even better.Bennetts also expands on how his West Surrey Racing team could have dominated with Tom Kristensen, and explains why he turned down working for Ron Dennis at McLaren.In another fascinating episode of Engineering the Greats, Bennetts' memories of a brilliant life in racing are not to be missed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For success matched only by sheer diversity, few can hold a light to engineering ace Tony Southgate, who joins Rob Widdows for our Engineering the Greats podcast series, produced in association with Scalextric.Designer of Bobby Unser's Indy 500-winning Eagle 68 car, a key contributor to the trailblazing ground-effect Lotus 78 and the creative mind behind Jaguar's Le Mans-conquering XJR-9, the Coventry native has marked himself out as one of racing's great lateral thinkers.Along the way, Southgate worked with some of its greatest drivers, including Mario Andretti, Pedro Rodriguez and Dan Gurney.In this newest episode of this podcast series, Southgate pulls back the curtain on some of motor sport's seminal moments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As trailblazers go in motor sport, there aren't many that can match up with the groundbreaking achievements of Leena Gade, who joins Rob Widdows for our Engineering the Greats podcast series, produced in association with Scalextric.On her Le Mans debut with Audi in 2011 Gade became the first female race engineer to win at La Sarthe. She She would mastermind wins again in 2012 and 2014, sealing her place as one of Le Mans' engineering greats, before working in GT racing, IndyCar and now Extreme E.In the latest instalment of our podcast series, Gade opens up on what it was like to be in the centre of the Audi winning machine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gary Anderson joins Rob Widdows for the latest in our Engineering the Greats podcast series. The former Jordan designer tells how he started working life as a builder, then got his big break in F1 with Brabham as an engineer.Moving on to McLaren, he worked with James Hunt and Alain Prost and was then in IndyCar before Eddie Jordan called him back to the UK — and F1 — where he would make his name designing the legendary Jordan 191. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Hallam, who has worked with Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell and Mika Häkkinen joins Rob Widdows for another Engineering the Greats podcast in association with Scalextric.From race engineering Senna to his first wins in F1, to witnessing Mansell’s inimitable racing style in its early years and being at the centre of Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso’s fiery 2007 championship fight, the British engineer has had long a career at the very top.Hear him describe what it takes to work and succeed day in, day out with legends of grand prix racing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Legendary F1 car designer Patrick Head returns to our Engineering the Greats podcast for series 2, produced in association with Scalextric. He picks up where he left off last time with the story of Williams' dominant 1993 season.Head pulls back the curtain on the fascinating story of that year: of how the team secured Adrian Newey's services, why boss Frank Williams didn't want Damon Hill to partner Alain Prost, and how the cutting-edge FW15C car could have had even more exotic technical tricks, had Williams not been outmanoeuvred in a classic FIA showdown. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For most racing drivers, the chance to step up to Formula 1 is the opportunity of their careers, but Anthony Davidson says that his first grand prix start is something he still regrets to this day.Speaking to Chris Medland in the final episode from the current My big break series, WEC champion Davidson talks about the turning points in his career, which included more than a decade in top-level racing.Along the way, he brings his thoughtful views on why F1's points system should be revamped, the challenges facing female racing drivers, and his current commentary role.He reveals how an impromptu visit to Brands Hatch was the key to moving out of karting — where he raced alongside the likes of Dan Wheldon and Jenson Button — and into Formula Ford. Within two years, Davidson was a Formula 1 test driver and he eventually got his chance to race with Minardi, driving what he calls a "beast" of a car that he wasn't physically prepared for — and paying £250,000 for the privilege.But Davidson bided his time and was rewarded with a drive for Super Aguri, where he came agonisingly close to scoring world championship points. With the withdrawal of the team, he turned to sports cars, racing for Aston Martin before joining Peugeot's effort and then moving to Toyota, where he admits he's still "grieving" the 2016 Le Mans win that never was, when his car broke down with a lap remaining.Frank, funny, and insightful, Davidson takes you through the highs and lows of his eventful career. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Newly confirmed as an F1 driver with AlphaTauri driver for 2023, Pierre Gasly is the latest guest on our My big break podcast series, looking at the key moments that brought him to where he is now.Gasly explains how he tried ice hockey and football before being captivated by motor sport when he went karting for the first time aged 6. Part of a hotshot generation of French drivers, Gasly recalls watching grands prix with Charles Leclerc and Esteban Ocon, dreaming that maybe one of them might make it to F1. He also describes climbing the racing ladder on a budget to Formula Renault 2.0 where only a championship win would unlock the prize money needed to progress.His success brought him a Red Bull contract and, ultimately, a brief stint with the team which ended after just 12 races. He reflects upon that low moment and those that thought it would be the end of him, followed by his recollections of winning in Monza and silencing the critics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If a young Valtteri Bottas and his dad hadn't spotted the sign for a go-kart race in Finland, then the Alfa Romeo driver may never have got on track, let alone partnered Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.In the latest podcast from our My big break series, Bottas joins Chris Medland to reveal the make-or-break moments that brought him to Formula 1. He explains the key role that porridge power played ahead of his go kart debut, the local sponsors that bankrolled his fresh tyres, and the tests that took him from the Finnish go-karting championship to an F1 seat with Williams — via a rocky GP3 season. When Nico Rosberg retired from F1, Bottas moved from to Mercedes — and he suggests that he used his own money to buy out the Williams contract — only to be handed the Herculean task of being team-mate to Hamilton. Bottas describes how it took its toll, and reveals that he was on the brink of quitting at the end of the 2018 season before a restorative walk in a Finnish forest saw him change his mind.Now at Alfa Romeo, Bottas talks of the hope that he can win again with the team. "I don't see a limit," he says. "I'm absolutely loving F1." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kamui Kobayashi showed so much potential as a go-karting teenager that Toyota locked him into a ten-year racing contract at the age of 14.In our new My big break podcast episode, the Le Mans winner looks at the key moments that shaped his career, including that initial deal which took him all the way to Formula 1 — only for the team to announce that it was pulling out of the series after his third race.Kobayashi tells Chris Medland about his grand prix debut and the “crazy” battle with Jenson Button who would be crowned world champion at the chequered flag.He explains how he secured his return to the grid with Sauber, and why he doesn’t regret his year spent at the back of the grid with Caterham.Now back with Toyota and set to compete in this weekend’s Le Mans 24 Hours, Kobayashi describes his new joint driver and team principal role, as well as how he sees himself helping to shape the future of motor racing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Helio Castroneves says that destiny guided his glittering IndyCar career that's crowned by a record-equalling four Indy 500 wins, but the path to glory was far from straightforward.He speaks to Chris Medland in the opening episode from season two of our Big Break podcast series, charting the make-or-break moments that shaped top-level racers, engineers and managers.Ahead of this year's Indy 500, Castroneves recalls his early dreams of racing in Formula 1, graduating from karting in Brazil to living in Milton Keynes in British F3, and then the conversation with his sponsor that brought him to the unfamiliar ladder to IndyCar.That journey was studded with challenge, tragedy and a court case with Emerson Fittipaldi — plus a 14-week run to victory on Dancing with the Stars, that is credited with bringing an extra 1m viewers to IndyCar.Now in search of a record-equalling fifth Indy 500 win, Castroneves says that the sky's the limit, with no thoughts of retirement. When we’re in this business [of racing], it’s our life, it’s what we do, it’s the air that I breathe," he says. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dario Franchitti is the latest to make an appearance on our special podcast series, celebrating 100 years of Motor Sport magazine.The Scot is one of Britain's most successful IndyCar drivers, claiming three Indianapolis 500 crowns and four championship titles in a 265-race IndyCar career, sealing his place as a racing legend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Damon Hill is Rob Windows' latest guest in our special podcast series, celebrating 100 years of Motor Sport Magazine.The 1996 Formula 1 World Champion reflects on following his father's footsteps into the world of Grand Prix racing; driving alongside the likes of Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna; and against Michael Schumacher before winning the title. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A five-time grand prix winner who partnered the likes of Niki Lauda and Alain Prost, John Watson came achingly close to winning the 1982 Formula 1 World Championship.He's Rob Widdows' latest guest in a special podcast series marking 100 years of Motor Sport‘s publication, as he charts a changing era of F1 when Lauda and Mario Andretti introduced new levels of professionalism and ruthlessness to the sport.In a series of fascinating and funny tales, Watson covers driving for Bernie Ecclestone's Brabham team, witnessing Lauda's influence, and seeing the emerging talent of Prost. The driver who still holds the record for winning a grand prix from furthest back on the grid (22nd place) also tackles the art of overtaking and gives his predictions for the future of racing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

F1 World Champion, four-time IndyCar title-holder and Daytona 500 winner, Mario Andretti is the first guest in a special podcast series marking 100 years of Motor Sport‘s publicationAndretti has been a regular in Motor Sport‘s pages for more than half that time, and is still making headlines, with plans to be the first to test the Andretti F1 car, if the team is granted a place on the grid.He joins Rob Widdows to recall a career that made him one of the sport’s all-time greats, from watching Stirling Moss and Alberto Ascari as a spectator, to meeting Colin Chapman, succeeding in F1, and then racing against his son. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Red Bull won the F1 Constructors' Championship and powered Max Verstappen to the drivers' title too. But was it the best Formula 1 team in 2022?Our season review podcast shows why that question isn't as foolish as it sounds, as Le Mans champion and former Toyota grand prix driver Allan McNish joins Chris Medland and F1 presenter Lawrence Barretto to discuss the strongest teams of the season.Joining Red Bull on our shortlist is Mercedes, which put in a Herculean effort to recover and win after a poor start to the season; Ferrari, which had the pace to beat Red Bull in several races; and Alpine, which consistently racked up the points.Hear what our expert panel has to say and then make your choice in the Motor Sport Season Review Awards. Vote by December 22 and be in with a chance of winning £2,000 Goodwood season tickets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2022 F1 season delivered plenty of wheel-to-wheel racing in front of sell-out crowds, with unexpected twists and challenges regularly rearing their head. But which of the 22 races stands out above them all as the best grand prix of the year?F1 driver-turned-commentator Jolyon Palmer and fellow commentator Jack Nicholls join Chris Medland to look back at the year's action and assess the races on our season review awards shortlist.See which race they choose as their highlight of 2022 and then go to the Motor Sport site to vote for your selection - don't forget to make your selection by December 22. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can anybody apart from Max Verstappen claim to be the best F1 driver of 2022? Romain Grosjean thinks so as he, Chris Medland and Damien Smith delve into the details of which driver was most impressive throughout the grand prix season — irrespective of equipment.On the shortlist for Motor Sport's 2022 season awards are Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, George Russell and Verstappen. Hear what our expert panel have to say — and who Grosjean chooses above the world champion — then have your say on the Motor Sport website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Which F1 overtake stood out in a season of action-packed racing? Williams reserve driver Jack Aitken and Channel 4 Formula 1 commentator Alex Jacques join Chris Medland to review the shortlist of brilliant and brave moments that had crowds on their feet.Hear their views on moves that include Lewis Hamilton's three-wide pass at Silverstone and Sebastian Vettel taking on Kevin Magnussen at the US Grand Prix, then have your say by voting in the Motor Sport Season Review Awards on our website before December 22 to have a chance of winning £2,000 Goodwood season tickets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you're a Magnussen, the name alone can open doors, but you won't get through them, unless the talent's there.Kevin Magnussen is Chris Medland's latest guest on the My Big Break podcast, describing the key moments that shaped his career.The 29-year-old describes being invited to McLaren after winning the Danish Formula Ford championship because his dad, Jan, had been the team's test driver.He got on to its junior driver programme but it soon became apparent that he wasn't going to get an easy ride when he was given the ultimatum of winning the Formula Renault 3.5 Series or seeing his F1 dreams evaporate.Magnussen rose to the challenge and he talks about how his career progressed with a Force India drive that never was, a podium finish on his debut, and fighting for his McLaren seat with Jenson Button.After a year out of Grand Prix racing, Magnussen has returned to Haas in impressive form, and he explains why he's so much more relaxed for his second stint in F1. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.