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Exclusive F1 Rejects Interview with ERIC van de POELE
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Eric van de Poele has had a very successful career in single seasters, touring cars and sportscars alike. He was the German Touring Car Champion of 1987, in Formula 3000 he was Runner-Up to Erik Comas in 1990, is a multiple Sebring and Spa 24hrs winner, has tasted victory in Spanish Touring Cars and ALMS among other categories, and is a veteran of many Le Mans campaigns.However, he had an F1 career thwarted at every turn. On his race debut for cash-strapped Lambo at Imola in 1991 he was running 5th until the very last corner when his fuel pump failed; he didn't qualify the car again. Then both teams he drove for in 1992 (Brabham and Fondmetal) folded when the money ran out. When he contacted us recently, we asked him if he would answer some questions for us about his career, and he graciously obliged! For full details of his F1 adventure, and information on his career, please see our Eric van de Poele biography. |
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• What do you consider the 'best' and 'worst' moments of your racing career?
You know, my passion is my job. I love what I am doing and I really remember a lot of great moments; from my first start through to my first F1 test - so many good memories, I could write a book. Fortunately, I forget the worst. But of course you can't forget when your passion takes the life of your friends. We don't race for that and it affects the enjoyment a lot. Anyway, I will pick some very special and top moments of my career : • F3 school victory at La Chatres 1983;Really it's hard to say, there are so many! The worst moments - the deaths of Guy, Roland, Manfred, Ayrton, Keith, Greg... Most of them were friends and it was very hard to accept, because even if we know that we do a dangerous job, we are not prepared anymore for that. I say "anymore" because 30 years ago, there was a big accident every week! All the bad souvenirs of my racing career are nothing compared to that. | |
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• What was it like racing as high as 5th (in front of Mika Hakkinen) on your Grand Prix race debut at Imola? And what went wrong at Lambo for the rest of the year?
Imola will stay an incredible week for me. It started well on the Tuesday because I became a father for the second time ... a daughter! Then I pre-qualified for the first time, then qualified and then all the race was like a dream. I remember that to have been 9th after 5 laps and then to stop the car before the finish line was still like a victory because my race was done. I didn't realise how much these 2 points could have changed my career. When I felt the misfiring and saw the fuel alarm on my dashboard half a lap before the end, I was screaming in my radio to Dave Morgan (my race engineer): "Dave, what can I do ... what can I do?" After a big blank he told me, when I was stopped and could see the chequered flag: "Oh, Eric, you can just cry..." One of my mechanics broke his foot on the telemetry box, thinking that that stupid machine was the cause! After Imola, the team had no more money and expected a big sponsor after that race. The team spent a lot in testing during the winter and the car was far from competitive, but we tried our best all year long. | |
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• Do you know whose idea the new Brabham colour scheme of mid-1992 was? And speaking of bright colours - where did your own helmet design come from?
The new colours of the Brabham came at Magny-Cours I think. We just got a new owner for the team and I think the idea came from John McDonald and Mrs Wickham. I designed my helmet myself in 1980, inspired by the "Martini Racing" design. Then, I changed the colours 3 times (1984, 1986 and the last time was in 1988). | |
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• What was it like being team-mate to Giovanna Amati and Damon Hill, considering one was a media sensation, and the other a future World Champion?
Giovanna was really much better than what she showed in F1. In fact, it was very difficult for her. We didn't do one mile with the Brabham-Judd before the first practice in South Africa. She had terrible pressure from the press and photographs, and she was completely lost. In F3000 she was not bad at all, and it was a shame that she could not have another chance. With Damon, we had a fantastic year together, because the team had no money and we were all very close within the team. We tried very hard and Damon was really a very good friend and team-mate. I would love to race again with him - but in the same car this time ... why not at Le Mans? When Damon had his first victory in Hungary, I cried in front of the TV, I was so happy for him, nothing to see with any jealousy! I was happy also because I knew that a few months ago we were in the same boat and he proved that from non-qualification, you can be a winner by your work - and with a good car, of course. At Brabham, we certainly worked as hard on the race-track as the top teams (and took more risks), we were just on the second page of the monitor, and with zero miles of testing ... difficult for the team and for the drivers when you know that the top guys start the season with 10,000 kms in the legs! The conditions were horrible but I would sign up again tomorrow, because I loved so much to drive that kind of car that nothing could stop me. I have absolutely no regrets and only good memories of that time. Believe me or not, but I was not paid to do my job in 1992, we only just found the money to race... | |
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• We believe the Fondmetal GR02 was a pretty good car. After all, Tarquini qualified 11th at Spa, and you started 15th. Just how good do you think the GR02 chassis was?
The GR02 was a very good car, and we also had a very competitive engine (Ford HB). Sergio Rinland designed it as the Brabham BT60. It was really the best F1 I drove. I was so disappointed to be at Estoril as a tourist ! For example, during all year with the Brabham we had to try crazy moves to qualify. At Budapest, on my first go in the Fondmetal, I qualified with my second warming lap ... now this is F1! | |
| Click here to read Eric's Full Biography on our site! |
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