Fulfilling my driving ambition

IT IS every boy's dream to drive a Formula One car - to feel the speed, writes Ian Stafford.

Tonight in Regent Street thousands of people will witness the unique sight of eight F1 cars racing to promote this weekend's British Grand Prix.

Yesterday I was given the chance to drive the Jaguar that ITV motor racing commentator Martin Brundle will use against such drivers as Jenson Button, David Coulthard and Nigel Mansell on the West End streets.

At the Northamptonshire Santa Pod drag racing circuit, Brundle Running scared: Ian Stafford gets some last-minute advice from the Jaguar team told me to "treat the car with respect". And after listening to a host of instructions, I was away.

"It accelerates from nought to 120mph in five seconds," warned test-team manager Tony Burrows.

But these are just words. The reality is altogether different.

One touch of the throttle and I had accelerated faster than I had ever done in my life. It took me a fraction over 20 seconds to travel the mile-long track. It was as if my life had been put on fast forward.

Then it was over: the car in one piece, my top speed 165mph.

What an exhilarating experience.

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