Champ Car's F1x2 programme has been a hit with lucky participants all season, but the biggest surprise of a private program for
Bridgestone Firestone North America and Champ Car World Series guests at the MSR-Houston track wasn't the excited reaction of the 40 passengers, but that of the two drivers, Katherine Legge and Nelson Philippe.
While the wide-eyed look of passengers who experienced the 2.4-mile permanent road course first hand was almost guaranteed, both drivers also came back from each run with a wide grin.
With regular high-speed 'chauffeurs' Zsolt Baumgartner, Patrick Friesacher and Mario Dominguez unable to be present for the Texas event, Legge and Philippe were strapped into the cockpits of the two-seater chassis in Houston. Legge, of course, is no stranger to
F1, having tested for the Minardi team at the Vallelunga circuit near Rome almost exactly two years ago, and the Briton was happy to be back in action with Paul Stoddart's machinery.
“It was really nice to be able to give people we work with a reward for all the effort they put in during the season and, at the same time, help them gain an understanding of what actually happens on track,” Legge said, “When you're driving race cars all the time, you can easily start to take the performance for granted after a while but, when you see how excited the passengers are after they get out of the F1x2 cars, you're reminded how amazing it is. They've clearly had the experience of a lifetime.
"From a purely personal point of view, however, it's been a great day, and I can only thank Paul for the opportunity to drive the F1x2 car. Nelson and I have had a blast!”
For Frenchman Philippe, the day provided a first taste of F1 performance but, like Legge, he quickly got to grips with the quirky machines and, by the end, seemed as impressed with the experience as his passengers.
