Speed Racer

Uh, not exactly a Williams...

Thought you might be interested in Ellen MacArthur's latest achievement. Ellen MacArthur has broke another "record", but this time on dry land, in a car! Ellen has appeared on Top Gear, the most watched and longest running car related programme in the UK. One of the regular features is "A star in a reasonably priced car" in which well known personalities are given a little instruction and then timed around a track in an everyday family saloon car. While many of the personalities might be unknown beyond the shores of the UK, there have been international names such as Lionel Richie, Patrick Stewart, Christian Slater, Jay Kay, Geri Haliwell, Jodie Kidd and Simon Cowell, to name a few. A more than one were self confessed car nuts.

Ellen admitted to not driving as much as she might as she spent 6 months of the year at sea and had only had a go at Go Carts a couple of times. Before her "lap" was shown, she was pleading that she wanted another go as she could have done better. The lap was then shown and the determination on Ellen's face was there for all to see. Then came the big moment. Back in the studio, Ellen was asked how she had done and in a truly modest way, she had no idea and you could tell from her manner, she didn't think she had done that well.

However, it was revealed that Ellen had set a new track record for a "non professional" driver. Her time of 1.46.7 was only .4 of a second slower than ex Formula 1 (cars!!) World Champion Damon Hill. To say she appeared shocked was an understatement. Ellen even admitted to feeling a little emotional Yet again, Ellen has shown that whatever she turns her hand to, she succeeds and has proven what a great ambassador for the sport she is.

Regards,
Simon Nelson

12/06/05