Doing lines...
A teacher fronted at Mt Panorama earlier this year… He gave his students lines – of a very different typeV8 Supercar heroes like Craig Lowndes, Greg Murphy and John Bowe might have been kept busy signing autographs at this year’s Bathurst 12 Hour, but one of the best-credentialled racers went virtually unnoticed. Indeed, virtually no one took any notice of a chain-smoking, Coke-swigging bloke in his 60s hanging out in the Mercedes Black Falcon Racing pits….
Rob Wilson is not your typical F1 identity. And he's not even what you would expect of someone who inhabits the circus' inner circle… He doesn’t dress in designer clothes or wear a pastel jumper over his shoulders a la Michael Schumacher. Indeed, he humbly describes himself as a bloke with a “lot of road dust”.
Yet Wilson not only has a wide racing resume but he is also THE man many drivers from Formula One to V8 Supercars – including Greg Murphy – turn to for masterclasses. He’s the man who hones their skills and restores their lost mojo… And along the way, the UK resident gets to chat up the odd supermodel while teaching them to drive quickly. Cue Jodie Kidd…
Born in New Zealand, Wilson grew up watching the world’s best when they made their annual summer trek Down Under for the legendary openwheeler Tasman Series races. As well, he hung on every lap of the Australian Touring Car Championship and the Bathurst 1000 -- or 500 (miles) as it was then.
After moving to the UK, Wilson progressed through Formula Ford and Formula 3 all the way to Formula One but, like so many from Down Under, never had financial backing to cement his place.
Wilson actually earned a drive with the Tyrrell F1 team in 1981 only to be “bought out of it” by Michele Alboreto. He held an F1 Super Licence for eight years and did a lot of testing for various teams as well as racing in the US at Sebring and Daytona… Even in the Busch Grand National NASCAR series.
Wilson’s roll call of trainees is very impressive and while he is coy about naming names, it includes world champions Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen. Little wonder motoring.com.au took the chance to brush up on a few lessons…
?
?
We’re lapping as fast as we can go, but no helmets, because you can feel and see them better, and the rate [at which] they move their bodies. You can see that a person has a tendency to brake too hard, too late, too early, etc; and get a feel for what they do that is not good.
Then you work out a way to communicate how they could improve. And it’s always against the stopwatch; the lie detector is always running. And then I make them do it 100 times; repetition, repetition, repetition… You build in a new reality if it’s needed.
?
Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site…
Tags
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
