Addison’s year behind the mic
Commentator David Addison enjoyed a variety pack of action. He guides us through his busy season.
Long-haul flights, troublesome airports, delays and deadly local traffic can characterise the lifestyle of a global traveller – but for motorsport talker David Addison, it is all part of the fabric of his sporting season.
The Cheshire commentator embarked on yet another epic season of collecting air miles alongside watching some of the greatest motorsport on the planet. Here, he runs us through some of his season’s highlights. As you can see, there is hardly a motorsport stone he had left unturned.
1 AN INDIAN ADVENTURE
When: February 8-9
Where: Chennai,india
Series:mrf
The early-season cobwebs were well and truly blown away by this one. The MRF Challenge entry was good, if not as strong as previous years, and the Indian Touring Car Championship is always a highlight with a few cars that resemble Bangers from the UK’S short ovals.
The road traffic was terrifying and the local taxi to the airport post-event was utterly sphincter-tightening. Going
‘up’ the ‘down’ lane onto a motorway equivalent was bad enough but in the dark with no lights on? Thank God
I am insured…
The circuit has moved on from 1999, when I first went there, although it remains the only place at which
I have shared a toilet with a frog. I did the customary track run too to suss out any alterations.
Jamie Chadwick took the MRF title from Max Defourny, which was interesting, as Defourny had looked pretty handy when he arrived in Formula Renault but he never got hooked up all weekend. And the hotel served Belgian beer, so bonus points there…
2 KEEPING IT REAL When:march 23
Where: Oulton Park
Series: British Automobile Racing Club meeting
This was my second visit of the year after the Oulton Park 10km run in February, and a rare day at my local track with Ian Titchmarsh for a circuit commentary.
My first visit to Oulton Park was in 1977 and it looked better than ever, although it was fascinating to see how club racing has changed. There was not a singleseater race in sight…
The BARC had its usual miscellany of saloon cars, with the multitude of Classic Touring Car Racing Club entries offering great variety.
David Margalies’ Alfa Romeo GTV6 in mock Andy Rouse-ics colours was a highlight, as was Ford Escort aficionado Steve Yates in his Brooklyn-liveried XR3I.
Junior Saloons offered good racing but got royally stuffed by hapless safety-car procedure, which meant race one was largely a waste of time. BARC (NW) Sports/saloons was another mucked up by inept safety-car handling, but there was some good old-fashioned club racing to enjoy.
Ric Wood stole the show with his Holden Commodore, although he missed the second race. And, I was home in 20 minutes for Belgian beer. A fine day.
3 OVAL OFFICERS
When:april 19
Where: Skegness Raceway
Series: National Hot Rods
Easter weekend started with my first visit in 10 years to this place, largely thanks to an offer from friends and Skegness track staff Richard and Helen Kaleta.
Helen is clerk of the course and rules with a rod of iron and track presenter Richard was in fine voice.
There have been endless journeys on boring roads when I get to commentate on BRISCA F2 and National Hot Rods, which made the overdue return to Skeg-vegas even more special.
There was a sizeable crowd but, sadly, most of the BRISCA F1 fans seemed unmoved by the National Hot Rods, which to my eyes make a great sight. There was no contact and these weren’t the heroes that the fans had come to see.
While Carl Waller-barrett shone in the Hot Rod final, it was Harry Steward impudently retaking the BRISCA F1 lead on the dash to the flag, denying a last-bend lunge from Frankie Wainman Junior, about which the fans went home talking.
New promoter Rob Speak has done a mighty job at the track, and the place looks a real credit to him. Note to self: must go back. Second note to self: must take own Belgian beer.
4 AN UPHILL TRIUMPH
When:july 5-7
Where:goodwood
Event:festival of Speed
These are long days, but enjoyable ones with a wealth of variety on display. Highlights kept on coming and included seeing Rene Arnoux on his step-ladder watching the cars go up the hill through to Kenny Habul’s ex-peter Brock
Holden Commodore and Duncan Pittaway driving (or being driven by) the Beast of Turin.
But it was the Porsche 917 feature that sneaked it as the highlight as the cars looked – and sounded – magnificent.
The Romain Dumas-volkswagen I.D. R run in the Shoot-out was blistering but, on a damp-and-drying road, wasn’t as fast as it was in qualifying the day before, although I couldn’t help but be impressed by this new-fangled, silent technology.
Oliver Solberg was a star as he hurtled up the hill but, just when you got to a point where you think you are hardened to motorsport and the people, bam: Jack Nicholls and I looked at each other and swallowed hard as Jackie Stewart stopped mid-way up the hill and presented his wife, Helen, with a rose. The reaction to Jackie and his two sons in convoy all weekend was one thing, but this was quite another. Only at Goodwood…
Frustratingly, no Belgian beer to be found at the hotel.
5 A HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
When: July 13-14
Where: silverstone
Series:formula 1
There was a real buzz about the place on this weekend. For one thing, a home win was on the cards and for another, a fiveyear deal was in place.
There was a brilliant battle between the two Mercedes at the start of the grand prix which was sensational, all on the back of the home crowd getting behind F2 winner Jack Aitken earlier in the day.
The big race turned into the Lewis Show again as he romped home to win in style. He was the person most people had come to see so the crowd was happy. Traffic was good getting out, so more happiness was showered around. The dark days of waiting for a Bernie Ecclestone-inspired bombshell to drop seemed to be a thing of the past and, apart from the Red Arrows commentary being usurped by someone on the big screen helpfully showing you what the red carpet in the F1 paddock looks like, not much was missed.
Mrs Addison spent her day drinking Pimm’s with her friends and sitting in the BRDC Grandstand at Abbey in front of my commentary box, offering critical assessment of the coverage. Thanks, love. Have you brought any Belgian beer?
6 GOING AROUND THE CLOCK
When:july 27-28
Where:spa, belgium
Event:24 Hours
This was the highlight of the year. I ran the track on Wednesday and was totally flat through Eau Rouge. Promise.
I collected my suitcase from Team Parker Racing, last seen boarding a transporter at the British Touring Car Championship’s visit to Oulton Park in June. I was pleased to find my underwear survived without team boss Stuart Parker infesting it with itching powder.
The new Porsche 935 made its race debut, which was great to see.
The GT grid was huge and there was a cracking race in prospect. Weather was set to rain. Oh, and how. Porsche took the big plaudits.
7 GETTING A BIT DIRTY
When: August 24-25
Where: kouvola, finland
Series:nordic RX
I knew that Scandi-wegians liked rallycross but this was insane.
It was packed.
Mind you, there isn’t a lot else to do in this area, save for bothering elks.
The journey from Helsinki in a hybrid Toyota was the dullest two hours I have ever endured, and I’ve watched the film Rush...
Anyway, rallycross on a purpose-built
circuit was mega. It was a short track, blasted into a forest with lots of undulation, and the Supercars – and there are plenty of them – looked stunning.
Looking at the teams in this series, you appreciated that it was like a
WRX meeting on a smaller scale.
It was impressive and the atmosphere reminded me how motorsport should be.
There were no marshals with whistles being a nuisance or offensive security people and, if you wanted to sit on the bank away from the fencing over the top of the track, good on you.
Everyone was happy and in vocal mood. I ran the track too but, at one kilometre, that isn’t too impressive.
The hotel served Belgian beer but, at €12 a Leffe, it was an indulgence. At least Dick Turpin wore a mask. Probably from an elk.
8 RETHINKING A CLASSIC
When:october 3-6
Where:england-wales
Event: Wales Rally GB
Oulton Park in the dark on a Thursday night was a new experience. My headlight-spotting abilities were improving as [co-commentator and former co-driver] Mike Broad and
I try to identify cars on the big screens.
Next stop, Slate Mountain. Yes, it was a fiddly stage but there were thousands of fans who rocked up in the afternoon to see the WRC cars and they were certainly worth seeing: it was fascinating to have an annual dip into a different discipline of motorsport.
Less exciting was driving around
Wales. It was slow with nidgery-nadgery lanes, but at least co-driver Broad was in his element on the maps. I suggested that we used Satnav, which was the biggest insult possible it seems…
Sweet Lamb was a thrill as ever, as you can see the cars really being worked and two runs through the stage lets you see who is getting to grips with it by being quicker second time through.
Randomly, a gang of British Touring Car Championship fans were in the same hotel in vowel-lacking-welsh-town and want to talk about Colin Turkington rather than Ott Tanak. No Leffe. Is there a Welsh village called Lleffe?
9 DOWN TO THE WIRE
When:october 12-13
Where:brands Hatch Grand Prix
Series:british Touring Car Championship
This was “mind-blowing. Amazing. Unbelievable. Outstanding.” Yes, ITV pundit and former racer Paul O’neill used a sentence without split infinitives or the word “mint”.
In other news, it was a day of spreadsheets trying to plot who needed to do what to win the BTCC.
The abiding image was of Dan Cammish spearing off the circuit. Suddenly the championship, the day and everything changed and Colin Turkington was crowned for the fourth time.
The weekend was full of gossip, as people wanted to know what you have heard about different drivers for next year and who might be going where.
There was a real end-of-term feel as ever and dinner on Saturday was both blighted by woeful service (does triple cooked chips mean they take three times longer to arrive…?) and enlivened by more Steve Rider anecdotes.
There was a long journey home and it allowed time to ponder the season, which has flown by, but I can’t get that image of the Honda out of my mind. Must have a beer.
10 SIGN OFF IN STYLE
When: November 22-24
Where: Kyalami,south Africa
Series: intercontinental GT
Forget the old Kyalami, this was the new place and it was brilliant. Two laps around the circuit in the safety car at full pelt with Anthony Comas gave a proper idea of how much effort the drivers would put into the circuit.
Actually, I could have done with Comas as chauffeur on the way to the hotel as lots of junctions warned of smash‘n’grab hotspots. It was such a shame as you have such a beautiful country with the spectre of violence and crime looming over it. There was a proper feel-good nature to the event, until the weather turned and when the rain came, it was torrential.
John Watson and I did a 10-hour broadcast with only two pee-breaks and there was enough going on to make time fly by. Just like the old days, there was a prize-giving barbecue on the Sunday before everyone headed for home and the general view was that the event had been a success. Springbok and ostrich were on the menu on the plane home… but no Belgian beer.
There were many drivers who could have won this award, but most of them have been addressed as being underrated in the media and therefore are not really underrated! So Motorsport News has gone with Sergio Perez for a slowburning but brilliant season in F1’s midfield for the Mexican driver.
He was in the top 10 for eight of the last nine races of the season, and the one missing was Singapore where an oil leak robbed him while running – you guessed it – 10th. While Racing Point spent the first half of the year struggling following its protracted buy-out saga from mid-late 2018, which delayed the development of its new challenger, ‘Checo’ still starred.
Sixth place in Baku and eighth in China towards the start of the year prove he has come away from his inconsistent stint at Mclaren.
He rounded out the season with a large portion of the Abu Dhabi race sat on
Lando Norris’s gearbox, but mugged the impressive young Brit for seventh on the final tour. He may be coming to the latter part of his F1 career, but the Mexican has become one of the stars of F1’s midfield.
Could the solid showing lead to a plunge from one of the big teams, giving him a final chance?
Alright, Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes is hardly a shock. But Mexico was about as close to an upset as the six-time teams’ champions could pull as a tactical masterstroke delivered it a breakthrough win.
It didn’t come in as favourite for two reasons. It hadn’t won the event for two years as Red Bull and Max Verstappen dominated, but also in the context of 2019, Ferrari was on a roll with five consecutive poles before Mexico turned into six when Verstappen’s pole lap was deleted on account of ignoring yellow flags.
Furthermore, in the race, Hamilton took avoiding action from Sebastian Vettel at the start and had to take to the grass at Turn 2 after contact with Verstappen, and it looked like a win was out of the question.
While Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Alex Albon (Red Bull) went for twostops, Vettel and Hamilton elected to take just one tyre change.
Hamilton pitted much earlier than Vettel in order to ensure track position, but Vettel should have had better tyres at the end to mount a charge on the lead.
However, the hard tyre lasted longer than most expected and a combination of tactical nous and Hamilton’s caressing of the Pirellis kept the gap at two seconds or more for the whole race.
It was an all-around tactical masterclass from F1’s best team and driver.
Things were looking so good after pre-season testing in Spain. Ferrari was fast and even Mercedes’ internal analysis put the Scuderia in front. Then the capitulation began. Ferrari swung wildly from dominant force to also-ran over the first four races, while also failing to capitalise when it held the advantage in Bahrain and Baku.
Once Mercedes upgraded for May’s Spanish Grand Prix, no one else got a look in (apart from Vettel, briefly, in Canada) until the W10 overheated in Austria. That was race nine of 21…
And even then, it still wasn’t
Ferrari doing the winning. Charles Leclerc had a magnificent first season at the team, but he didn’t win until
Spa (round 13), and the car didn’t truly come together again for
Vettel until Singapore, race 15.
Ferrari won three of the final nine, and should have won once (possibly twice) more, but it was all just far too little too late. Then there were the own goals: Leclerc not getting out of Q1 in Monaco; the drivers tripping over one another (and team orders) in Russia and Brazil; Leclerc’s errors in Azerbaijan and Germany; Vettel throwing away Canada and pole in Japan.
The Mercedes team is good enough already, without this kind of needless extra help.