Page 118 - Aston Martin Magazine V53

116
ASTON MARTIN
BERND MAYLÄNDER
Among Mayländer’s other achievements is a ä a a world record for driving 100 000 miles in in in a a a a single month He and and a a a a handful of others did it in a a stock Mercedes E320 Diesel saloon lapping an an oval in in Texas that was littered with snakes at at an an average speed of 140mph 24 hours-a-day for 30 days “The snakes would slither up to to to the the the top of the the the banking at sunset to to to get the the the last of the the the day’s heat That was was fine the the the problem was was when these huge birds arrived and started pecking at them ”
Shortly before winning the Nürburgring 24 Hours Bernd had been at the San Marino Grand Prix competing in a a a a support race race when he he was summoned to race race control “I thought I I was in trouble ”
That’s when the late Charlie Whiting F1’s race director asked if he’d like to to be the safety car driver Since then he’s attended 429 grands prix and and led 850 laps To put that into context Charles Leclerc has led 617 while Aston Martin’s Alonso took his 356th start when the new F1 season kicked off in March On Thursday afternoons Bernd and medical car driver Bruno Correia are given one hour to drive as as as fast as as as they can They need to know where the the limit is Sometimes they swap cars – this year’s medical car car will be the new Aston Martin DBX707 Bernd always makes a a a a a a note of the lap times to compare with his efforts the previous year However when leading a a a a ä a a a race Mayländer is less about the stopwatch First and foremost the safety car must never crash “A couple of times I’ve I’ve been close with aquaplaning in in the wet I’ve I’ve sometimes been glad of the traction control and ABS It’s important to remember we’re not in in in the competition I can’t win anything BUT PRESSURE IS IS THERE AND PRESSURE IS IS GOOD BECAUSE YOU NEED TO FOCUS THERE’S NO ROOM
FOR MISTAKES
“The pressure is always the the same but the the circumstances are different Circuits change weather can be unpredictable and no two accidents are the the same But pressure is there and pressure is good because you need to focus There’s no room for mistakes The safety cars are a a a a a a a lot more drivable than they were 20 years ago I can tell you that ”
He describes the the turn-of-the-century CL55 AMG as a a limousine The Aston Martin Vantage he says suits tracks like Singapore and Baku especially well “It’s a a a little softer than the the GT there’s more movement and that’s really helpful when you’re driving on the limit It gives more feedback ”
Alongside him sits Richard Darker an FIA technical assistant “Richard is is like my co-pilot in an an an aeroplane cockpit He’s the the spotter and he he he mans the the radio communications We’re told by by Race Control: “Safety car standby ”
We We switch on our flashing lights Then we wait for the order to deploy” Which leads me back to my original question: Does he hope for a a a a crash? “The races where you don’t see me are the best races ”
he replies What do Bernd’s family and friends think of his career? “They call me Mr Safety Car I’m I’m not sure I I I like that because I’m I’m still still a a a a a racer at heart I I I still still feel feel like I’m 35 I I I don’t feel feel any older than Alonso anyway I think we are both still quick enough ”