Three-times world champion Sir Jackie Stewart talks exclusively to the GDN as Bahrain gears up to open the 2010 F1 season with a Grand Prix guaranteed to make history.
BAHRAIN is racing into the future and the history books as the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix opens the 2010 F1 season this weekend.
The event at Bahrain International Circuit from Friday to Sunday, promises one of the most eagerly-anticipated sporting contests in recent memory - with four world champions on the grid.
It not only marks the return of Mercedes-Benz after 55 years and the debut of new teams Virgin Racing, Lotus Racing and Hispania Racing, but also a unique celebration of 60 years since the founding of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship.
Eighteen of the 20 surviving world champions are flying in to enjoy the racing and reminisce, bringing history back to life.
The champion roll call includes 83-year-old Sir Jack Brabham (1959, 1960, 1966), who is travelling from his home in Australia; John Surtees (1964); Sir Jackie Stewart (1969, 1971, 1973); Emerson Fittipaldi (1972, 1974); Niki Lauda (1975, 1977, 1984); Mario Andretti (1978); Jody Scheckter (1979); Alan Jones (1980); Keke Rosberg (1982); Alain Prost (1985, 1986, 1989, 1993); Nigel Mansell (1992); Michael Schumacher (1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004); Damon Hill (1996); Jacques Villeneuve (1997); Mika HŠkkinen (1998, 1999); Fernando Alonso (2005, 2006); Lewis Hamilton (2008) and defending champion Jenson Button (2009).
Few people have had such a long-lasting effect on the sport as Sir Jackie, whose tireless campaigning for greater safety standards has contributed to the well-being of competitors, officials and fans alike.
His business acumen and personal style set the benchmark for the jet-setting millionaire drivers who have followed.
Sir Jackie remains part of the fabric of the sport and is delighted to play his part in the celebrations of this 60th anniversary year in Bahrain.
"This 60th anniversary is a significant recognition for Bahrain on a global basis, but promoting the sport in this way is something that Bahrain has taken a lead on," he said.
"The 60th anniversary celebration of the Formula 1 world championship is especially impressive in that, as a relative newcomer to the sport, Bahrain has taken the trouble to assemble these drivers who have contributed so much to the history of Grand Prix racing."
Not only will the sport's greatest drivers be present when the new season starts, but also many of the most important cars to have been built in the last 60 years.
Twenty-one landmark racing machines since 1950 to the present day, assembled from private collections around the world, will be on public display and will take laps of honour through the weekend.
"Bahrain has been able to work with the owners of so many championship-winning cars to bring them back, together with the drivers and I think that is down to the remarkable reputation for friendliness that Bahrain has," said Sir Jackie.
"It is a testament to the circuit and the kingdom that it is always thinking out of the box to create this celebration at the start of such an exciting season for the sport."
Only 31 men have won the title of Formula 1 world champion, making them global celebrities.
The call of this once-in-a-lifetime event is bringing 18 members of this most exclusive club in world sport to Bahrain.
"I don't think there's ever been such a gathering of world champion drivers and to have them together with such a collection of championship-winning cars and even driving them again, is extraordinary," said Sir Jackie.
"It's not only the drivers themselves but also their sons. Juan Fangio's Maserati will be driven by his nephew Juan Fangio II, Graham Hill's 1968 championship-winning Lotus is going to be driven by his grandson Josh and I myself have the wonderful opportunity to share the driving with my sons Mark and Paul.
"I know that Damon in particular will be thrilled to see three generations of his family represented. I think all of the champions, drivers and friends who are no longer with us, like Graham, won't be far away from us or out of our thoughts and they will be well remembered."
Another major attraction for the champions will be soaking up the atmosphere of the 2010 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix together, while looking back over their own careers and on-track battles.
"There are other drivers I see less often and so to share this event and to reminisce with Mario Andretti or Emerson Fittipaldi, after some great races together over the years, will be wonderful," said Sir Jackie.
One man present for the occasion was at the very first round of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship - the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on May 13, 1950 - will be today's Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.
In the early 1950s, Ecclestone competed in Formula 3 events before his illustrious career as a driver manager, team owner and ultimately the man who turned Formula 1 into the multi-billion dollar enterprise that it is today.
"Bernie is going to be just as touched and impressed as anyone else," said Sir Jackie.
"It's not all business with Bernie and I don't care who you are, you won't fail to be impressed by such a collection of cars and by the achievement of bringing so many world champion drivers together.
"I think Bernie will share a lot of the nostalgia and good feelings, and also take considerable pride in what he has done to make the sport so celebrated and such a success."
Like all racing drivers, however, the next race is always the most important and the prospect of the stars and the cars of the 2010 season kicking off their title campaigns is one that Sir Jackie is eagerly anticipating.
"It really is wonderful to see Felipe Massa back in the cockpit after the severity of his accident last year and clearly he is fit and confident," he said.
"He is a major contender for the world championship this year, the Ferrari team looks good having not been at their best the last couple of years, but of course it is only in Bahrain when we will really know how everyone stands.
"Of course we don't know exactly what the teams have been doing in their testing programmes but that's what is going to make Bahrain such a big event - there's no hiding now !"
