Tech House and Speed by Bill Wood: Episode 107

Tech House and Speed by Bill Wood:  Episode 107

Guests: Jari-Matti Latvala (00:00), Sascha Maassen (13:16), Tom Kristensen (25:10), Allan McNish (37:46)

(click play above to listen)

Tech House & Speed promises Winners, Champions and Legends every week. This is another major example of all of that promise. We have current winners, future winners, past and future champions and legendary winners at legendary events. We spend several segments talking about the Sebring 12 Hours next month. And we visit something as recent as trash talking at last weekend's Rally Sweden.  It's all a part of Winners, Champions and Legends on Tech House & Speed!

In Segment One we talk with Jari-Matti Latvala, winner last weekend at the WRC Rally Sweden. Latvala is the number one driver at the Ford World Rally Team and the win was critical in his title chase. Latvala didn't score any points at Rally Monte Carlo so this number one driver is behind his teammate at Ford in the season points after two events. It's even more difficult when you're chasing your teammate, former WRC champion Petter Solberg. Wait'll you hear some of the background from Sweden including some trash talking between Latvala and his teammate last year, Mikko Hirvonen who finished second in Sweden.

In Segment Two we talk with Sascha Maassen, Porsche factory driver and winner at Le Mans and Sebring. Maassen will be at Sebring next month with Paul Miller Racing. It's a GT ride but Maassen has won at Sebring in both a GT car and a prototype. So he knows the track. But wait'll you hear how Maassen relaxes before and after the race. Can you believe he curls up with a good book; a real book and not one of those tablet recreations. These are a good few minutes with a championship sports car driver.

Jari-Matti Latvala	Sascha Maassen	Tom Kristensen	Allan McNish

In Segment Three we talk with Tom Kristensen who deserves a chapter in the racing book all to himself. Kristensen has won Le Mans, maybe the most grueling sports car race in the world, a record number of eight times including six times in a row. Most of the wins are with Audi but one was stamped in the books with a Bentley. Kristensen is literally in a different conversation when you talk about sports car drivers. He has experience in DTM and more but this time we are talking about the Sebring 12 Hours and how it starts the year down the road to the new World Endurance Championship.

Finally in Segment Four we talk with Audi master Allen McNish who lives in Monaco but he sits  us down for a brilliant lecture on why international automakers are looking to sports car racing to make it one of the hottest tickets in the motor racing marketplace. McNish also gives is some background on his experiences on the rough and tumble race track at Sebring International Raceway. This is a great few minutes with a great racing driver. If you have missed any part of this episode or guest, you can go to iTunes where this and past shows are available for your convenience. Tech House & Speed archives are also available "On Demand" or via RSS syndication at www.ByBillWood.com, www.TechHouseandSpeed.com or at www.RaceFanRadio.com! Enjoy!! TRT: 54:01