A PHer doesn't need to be asked twice to shake the hand of a Formula 1 world champion, so when a five-minute interview slot with Jenson Button came up for grabs at the McLaren Technical Centre yesterday I swooped like, er... McLaren's facility manager on a stray crisp packet in the VIP car park.
Jenson and his McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton have just enjoyed a friendly joust at the Goodwood circuit in a pair of 12C prototypes, with the resulting film clip forming part of McLaren Automotive launch presentation yesterday. We're unlikely to be offered a drive in the 12C for ages yet, so the age-old question just had to be asked: "Wot's she like, Mister?"
As McLaren had a film studio and camera team on standby for Jenson's 'proper' interviews, so we even managed to record our five minutes of fame for posterity although my effort was cruelly cut-off in its prime by McLaren's official timekeeper. Still, time is money, as that nice lady in the park once said to Garlick.
Anyway, in spite of the abrupt end to my career as the new Parky, off-camera I did manage to ask Jenson my final question about his current daily driver. (Motivated by the fact that McLaren Automotive boss Ron Dennis has all but promised to sort him (and Lewis) with new 12Cs as soon as they're ready.)
Jenson is mainly driving his AMG C63 at the moment, it seems, but is pining for a spin in the 582hp CLK DTM AMG he also owns, and which he doesn't get a chance to drive much. And no, he's not going to sell either of them to make way for that new Macca.
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