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Adrian Reynard: a founding father of Brawn GP + Mercedes
About this Episode
Adrian Reynard's motor racing outfit were one of the best in the world during the 1980s and '90s – winning multiple championships across Formula 3000, F3 and IndyCar.
Reynard Racing Cars also held an impressive record of winning the first race of every major single-seater competition they entered.
But when Adrian helped create the British American Racing F1 team in 1999, expectations were high and that previous success didn’t quite translate in the pinnacle of motorsport.
Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Adrian tells the fascinating story of BAR - how the team was formed with 1997 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve, why a big falling out with Team Principal Craig Pollock led to Adrian resigning, and how he helped lay the foundations for that team to later become World Champions as Brawn GP and then Mercedes.
Adrian reflects on his F1 ventures before BAR as well - including a failed attempt to create his own team in 1990, despite selling his house to fund it, and his experiences with March F1 as a 29-year-old Technical Director in the 1980s.
And Adrian also talks about inspiring legendary engineers like Rory Byrne and Pat Symonds, why he had an up-and-down relationship with the late Eddie Jordan, and the small part he played in the car that Michael Schumacher won his first F1 race in.
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION CHARTER
To find out more about the Diversity and Inclusion charter agreed by all 10 F1 teams, Formula 1 and the FIA, with support from the Royal Academy of Engineering and Sir Lewis Hamilton’s foundation, Mission 44, click here
It's All To Drive For in 2025. Be there!
Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com
Listen to more official F1 podcasts
Every race analysed on F1 Nation
Expert answers to your questions on F1 Explains
THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY:
Babbel: F1 Beyond The Grid listeners get 55% off subscriptions at babbel.com/grid
Vanta: visit vanta.com/grid to sign up for a free demo today
But when Adrian helped create the British American Racing F1 team in 1999, expectations were high and that previous success didn’t quite translate in the pinnacle of motorsport.
Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Adrian tells the fascinating story of BAR - how the team was formed with 1997 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve, why a big falling out with Team Principal Craig Pollock led to Adrian resigning, and how he helped lay the foundations for that team to later become World Champions as Brawn GP and then Mercedes.
Adrian reflects on his F1 ventures before BAR as well - including a failed attempt to create his own team in 1990, despite selling his house to fund it, and his experiences with March F1 as a 29-year-old Technical Director in the 1980s.
And Adrian also talks about inspiring legendary engineers like Rory Byrne and Pat Symonds, why he had an up-and-down relationship with the late Eddie Jordan, and the small part he played in the car that Michael Schumacher won his first F1 race in.
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION CHARTER
To find out more about the Diversity and Inclusion charter agreed by all 10 F1 teams, Formula 1 and the FIA, with support from the Royal Academy of Engineering and Sir Lewis Hamilton’s foundation, Mission 44, click here
It's All To Drive For in 2025. Be there!
Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com
Listen to more official F1 podcasts
Every race analysed on F1 Nation
Expert answers to your questions on F1 Explains
THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY:
Babbel: F1 Beyond The Grid listeners get 55% off subscriptions at babbel.com/grid
Vanta: visit vanta.com/grid to sign up for a free demo today
Hosts & Guests
No transcript available for this episode.
