(Born 1^st June in King's Lynn, Norfolk) is a former Formula One driver for Tyrell, Zakspeed, Brabham, Williams, Benetton, Ligier, Mclaren and lastly Jordan. He now works as a F1 commentator for television. Firstly ITV Sport and now the BBC from 2009. He was the 1988 World Sportscar Champion, with a record points haul, and won the 1990 Le Mans 24 hour Race for Jaguar in an XJR-12. As well as contesting races in IMSA GTP for TWR/Jaguar from 1998 to 1990, Brundle also contested the American IROC series in 1990, taking a victory at the temporary circuit at Burke Lakefront Airport (the only IROC victory for a British driver) and coming 3rd in the overall standings.

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 I was interested to hear recently that one of Sports Car racing’s all time great drivers, Tom Kristensen, is stepping away from his works DTM Audi to concentrate on Sports Car racing at the end of the year.

 He’s a fellow F1 commentator too now and he seemed very content when I spoke with him in Monaco at the GP.

 He reckons Sports Cars are about to have a golden era. It is just possible he thinks that the competition in DTM is getting ever younger and faster so quit while ahead, but he won the opening round anyway.

 Tom is a smart operator and he sees more manufacturers involved, especially at Le Mans. He could well be right, especially if F1 stays on its current self destruct course. Endurance and fuel efficiency will sit very well with the manufacturers’ future goals, along with the need to justify budgets together with technology transfer into profitable and highly regarded product ranges.

 Audi is one of the strongest brands and most robust businesses in the car world, and they didn’t need F1 to make that happen.

 If the various sports car series get their act fully together they could indeed be very well positioned. I did plenty of sports car racing form 1985 to 1999 and I have one piece of advice. Keep it clear,simple, and consistent for manufacturers, teams and fans alike .

 I was lucky to win plenty of races and a championship but I wouldn’t begin to be able explain the differences between Sports Car, GTP, GT, LMP, Super GT, GT1, Group C, FIA GT, ALMS, ELMS, LMS, IMSA, Grand Am, Daytona Prototype, British GT, World Endurance Series, World Sports Car. All definitely TFC.

 Just call them Le Mans cars. That’s the only way I seemed to be able to explain it to people who asked what I was racing at the time.

 MB

June 2009.