In the first episode
of my new ‘Interview with a Gent’ series I talk to Tom Chilton, the British
racing driver. We discuss his life on and off the track, as well as what he thinks makes the
quintessential gentleman.
Hi Tom, for those
readers that might not follow racing, could you give us a few career
highlights?
There are quite a few. I think my first win in the British
Touring Car Championship was definitely a highlight; I was 19 years old and it
was in 2004. I went from 10th to 1st at Silverstone and
it was in front of a really big home crowd which was brilliant. That was my
first big win. In 2005, I competed and won in the Le Mans endurance racing
which was pretty taxing. Also, winning at Sonoma in California ranks up there.
Where is your
favourite place to race?
California is definitely a good place to race. I wish the
World Touring cars came to Britain though; after racing in the British Touring
Championship for ten years, I now have quite a big following and it would be
good to replicate that in this championship too. It is a shame we don’t come
back here. I do like British circuits as they are tight and twisting and the
action is very close. As long as I’m going sideways though I am happy!
What is your
favourite car to drive both on and off the track?
I use a Nissan Skyline GTR for my business so that is my car
of choice. It is great for scaring people round Brands Hatch, especially with
725BHP under the hood.
Do you have any race
day rituals that you do before a big race?
People always ask me this! I do always put my earpieces and
balaclava on while I look in the side mirror of the car. It may not be a ritual
but it is something I find myself doing.
Say I wanted to jump
in a car and drive really fast around a track…what three attributes are most
important to succeed (and not crash)?
Try and be relaxed. Be smooth. Don’t overdrive. I always
think the best analogy for this is golf; the harder you try to hit the ball,
the more likely you are to end up in the rough. In motorsport, that could be
another car or the barriers. If you are relaxed, you see more around you and
feel the tarmac change during the race. You should always keep your eyes on the
road ahead of you and keep your hands at 9 o’clock and 3’o clock too.
Do you apply your
on-track persona to your everyday life or do you have separate personalities on
and off the track?
Not really. On the roads I drive slowly and I am a very calm
person. That tends to translate into success on the track because I don’t lose
my cool. Funnily enough, I now try to hold my heart rate when I exercise at the
same point as it would be when I’m in a race car, which is around 150BPM. If I
start to train any higher, it won’t feel normal in the race car.
What else do you like
to do when you’re not racing?
I love to run. Nothing is more therapeutic than going for a
run. If you just go for a nice gentle jog, it really refresh your head and your
body. It’s always good to stretch your legs after being in a car too.
What would you like
to be doing, or what would you be doing, if you weren’t a race driver?
I have always been in cars, since the age of 13. I have no
idea what else I would do!
You’re on the road a
fair bit, what are your must-have travel essentials. Are there any products or
fashion items you can’t travel without?
As a racing driver it’s important that I maintain my weight, which is why I follow the LighterLife Fast 5:2 plan. On my fasting days I have four products which guarantee 100% of the RDA of vitamins and minerals for around 600 calories. They are also ultra-convenient which makes them perfect for my lifestyle, and the strawberry and chocolate milkshakes taste great. Colgate Total Whitening toothpaste is another essential; it
is the best-tasting toothpaste. Shockwaves hair gel
is great and keeps my hair from going everywhere once my helmet comes off. I did previously listen to
music before I raced which was important to me but now I feel a lot more
chilled out so I don’t need any electronics.
What do you think
makes the quintessential gentleman? Give me three quick characteristics.
The quintessential gentleman is kind and generous, not
two-faced. It is someone who holds the door open for you and shows respect. I’m
not trying to quote The Godfather here but I believe in respect. My
grandparents are very much like that and I can’t help but question why everyone
can’t be the same. Grooming is very important too; the caveman-look isn’t ideal.
What I do love about life though is that everyone is different, and I see a lot
of people when I travel. However, we can all look different, and all smell
different, but that sense of respect and decency should be found everywhere.
Finally…I have to
ask, as you’ve appeared on the show a few times, but will you miss the current
Top Gear?
I really hope that the new show works. It won’t be the same,
yes, but it is a great formula and I’m sure the BBC will make it work. I was
actually thinking about applying to be the new Stig (maybe the “Chig”) as it
would be a great show to be involved with. The best of luck to them!
