Veteran of 61 Formula 1 grands prix, Le Mans 24 Hours victor, Indycar race winner in the most fearsome era… at 53, Mark Blundell has nothing to prove.
Yet here is he, back racing, in an Audi S3 in the bear pit that is the British Touring Car Championship.
Why on earth…?
“Several reasons,” says Mark. “One, a couple of years ago I lost my father, who was a massive influence on my life. That gave me a huge focus that if I’ve still got a passion and a desire, I should give it a go. He always agreed with that.
“Secondly, at the age I’m at, yes, business is great” – he runs a successful sports management company and looks after several racing drivers, including DTM ace Gary Paffett and sports car racer Mike Conway – “but the lifestyle was getting a bit too much for my physical shape… This gave me a target. I’ve dropped 13 kilos about three months.
“And three, if I didn’t think I could be successful – not just on-track results – I wouldn’t be doing it.”
The BTCC’s high profile, big crowds and live TV coverage has enabled Mark to bring some impressive blue-chip sponsors to the programme, which is good for business – but he can’t help feeling disappointed at his form so far. Brands Hatch and Donington Park proved tough, and this weekend at flat-out Thruxton is likely to offer more of the same.
“I’ve said from day one it was going to be a challenge and it’s been exactly that,” he says, acknowledging that he’s struggling to adapt to front-wheel drive (but he’s in good company on that one).
“They are one of the most unique cars to effectively get a lap time out of because the operating window is very small,” he’s says. “Everything I do to invigorate change from what I’ve been used to for many years is fundamentally either reversed or completely different. At this point I don’t really have a reference point.”
He has no complaints about the BTCC’s notorious rough and tumble, even if it’s not his style. “I don’t think I can change it and I don’t want to, because that is what I signed up for,” he says. “It is a different breed of racing. Once I get comfortable with the car I’ll be quite happy to get my elbows out.”
At least the circuits are familiar – although it’s been a while. “At Donington Park, the guys were asking ‘when did you last race here?’,” he smiles. “The answer was 1993, European Grand Prix… You go to Thruxton and it’s 1986, Formula Ford 2000! I’ve gone full circle.
Read more
BTCC 2019: why the sport is back to its best
BTCC 2019: Tom Ingram on racing the new Toyota Corolla​
Racing lines: why car makers still can't resist motorsport​
Join the debate
Add your comment
Has he been told by Chilton
Has he been told by Chilton to quit ?
Thruxton
How did Mr Blunde(r)ll do this time out?
Qualified last.
First Race - 27 out of 30. Second - Didn't finish. Third Race - Didn't finish.
So why exactly is he back in the BTCC!
I’m with his sentiments to.
Don’t sit on your hands more as you get older, do something, simple as that, once your in your fifties and so on you start to look at your life more, friends , relatives pass away for whatever reasons, no, if you can, then do it whatever it is.
But surely, by 50's you do something that you are good at
Aren't you supposed to have learned what you are good at by now, and clearly by qualifying close to the back of the grid and then finishing almost last in most of the races, and when he didn't he was in the teens, he clearly isn't very good.