Profile – Herbert, BTCC’s newest signing

In less than two weeks time, Romford’s Johnny Herbert will take to the circuit where he won his first Formula 1 Grand Prix, but in incredibly different machinery a full 14 years on from that landmark acheivement in his career. Instead of a 600bhp single seater car powered by a Renault 3 litre V10 engine, he’ll be driving a 270bhp, 2 litre Honda powered front wheel drive hatchback touring car.

Taking over from double champion James Thompson – whom has taken on a NASCAResque schedule this season by driving the Team Dynamics Honda Civic in the BTCC, the Hartmann Racing Honda Accord in the DTC, the Triple Eight Ford Falcon for the endurance events in the Australian V8 Supercars Series – and last but not least, the Lada Priora in the WTCC – finally finds there’s a clash in his calendar, and vacates his seat for his fellow countryman.

Herbert will be the first driver with Formula 1 experience to race in the BTCC since Gabriele Tarquini raced in the 2000 season.

Herbert will need to show adaptability to quickly adjust to this very different kind of racing – however, his recent experiences with the ill-fated Speedcar series may lay some of the groundwork into getting ready for the bumping and barging that can (will?) occur in the British Touring Car Championship.

Johnny Herbert’s motor racing career started out as most Formula 1 destined drivers careers would do in the 1980’s, driving in Formula Ford and British Formula 3 and then Formula 3000. In 1988, his career looked to be over after a horrific crash at Brands Hatch saw him break both his legs, and he had to work hard to recover.

Johnny was granted a Formula 1 opportunity despite this with the Benetton team in 1989, competing a part season before being dropped, then racing occasionally for the Tyrrell team later in the season. From late 1990 to the end of 1994 he raced for Team Lotus in their final years, also finding time to race in the 1991 Le Mans 24 Hour Race and take overall victory with Volker Weidler and Bertrand Gachot for Mazda.

In 1995, he drove for the Benetton Formula 1 team, helping them to claim their first and only constructors championship by taking two wins at Silverstone & Monza, while team mate Michael Schumacher took the greater share of the points taking his second drivers championship. The Benetton B195 was Herbert’s most competitive drive in his F1 career, finishing fourth in that seasons standings. For his remaining F1 years, Herbert would drive quieter seasons for Sauber, Stewart Grand Prix and Jaguar – claiming Stewart’s only win in a fortuitous race the the Nurburgring.

Herbert retired from F1 at the end of 2000, and has gone on to impress in other series. Making the logical move to sportscars, Johnny competed for Bentley and Audi in the Le Mans 24 Hour race finishing 2nd in all races between 2002 and 2004. Herbert also challenged for the 2003 American Le Mans Series title, finishing second whilst racing alongside former Benetton team mate JJ Lehto. In 2004, Herbert won the inaugural Le Mans Series (European), also driving for Audi.

After a few seasons performing promotional duties for the Midland F1 team, Johnny returned to racing by entering the Le Mans 24 Hour race in 2007, this time challenging for the GT1 class for the Prodrive Aston Martin team – a class win was ruled out however when team mate Tomas Enge damaged the splitter battling with the other team car, which went on to win Aston Martin’s first Le Mans.

In 2008, Herbert won the first season of the new Speedcar series, which saw him drive a US style stock-car in an middle east circuit based off season series against many former F1 compatriots and touring car stars such as Uwe Alzen (his chief rival), Klaus Ludwig, Jean Alesi, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Jacques Villeneuve. In the 2009 season, he narrowly lost the championship to Gianni Morbidelli.

Although these American stock cars are very unlike the front wheel drive touring car Johnny will be racing shortly, the style of shorter, more contact ‘friendly’ racing is a good middle from the super powered endurance racers Herbert has been used to, and the short 30 minute race for the flags the Briton will be participating in at Silverstone, Rockingham & Brands Hatch.

In recent years, Herbert has shown he is greatly adaptable and capable at running at the front at whatever type of racing he chooses to compete. The BTCC’s another opportunity to shine for one of Britain’s most experience and likeable motor-racing stars.