Nowhere man – part 2

In the second part of our “Nowhere man” special you’ll read all about Tom’s on-track action, after he was given the chance to share the limelight with the celebrities at the 2002 Australian Grand Prix.

Day six—qualifying

We watch the F1 cars do their qualifying sessions and have lunch with the celebs at the BMW facility. We get a great pit walk, seeing all the F1 cars up close, as well as the absolute extravagance of the teams. The weather is not good all day and the F1 cars have a tough time in their sessions. I am pretty happy, as my third place is fine, but the thought of trying to go fast in the wet is making us all very nervous. Geoff Brabham informs us in the briefing that we’re going onto the track no matter what the conditions.

We leave the compound at 4.20pm, once again through the crowd. It turns out to be dry, after all the bad weather, which means that this session is for real.

A camera crew interviews Greg, then Antonio, then look at me in third and give the same sort of gesture I’ve become used to all week—who’s that guy?

Soon enough we are on the track. Greg and Antonio speed off together, and when they’re about 200 metres away, Mike and I are waved off. I don’t make a great start, but Mike lets me have the first corner and I take off from there. Greg and Antonio are slow and I pass them both after two laps. It feels fantastic to pull off those overtaking moves.

It’s like a fairytale unfolding in my little MINI—each lap I feel more and more confident and fast. I have no idea how fast I am compared to the rest as I can only see Antonio in my mirror some way behind. After five laps the chequered flag comes out, so I slow right down to try and see where my family is sitting to give them a wave. Unbeknown to me, I’ve got pole position; it’s been announced on the track-side commentary so they (and all the people around them) are going absolutely nuts. I hear them yelling as I amble past—it’s great to have them there.

Once again we drive into the compound and it isn’t until I get out of the car that someone tells me about pole position. I don’t believe them at first—the times took much longer to come out the day before—but then the official word comes and it’s true! None of the other times have been released, so all the attention is on me—ironic after being a “nobody” all week. We have a press conference, more as dry run for the race day, than anything anybody is taking notice of. I have no idea what to say except that it felt great and I’m so excited.

We have a few drinks and Geoff arrives with the rest of the times and the final grid positions. Russell Mark has second, Antonio third and Suzie is last. There’s a lot of comparing of times from the day before, and as Geoff predicted, most are 3 to 4 seconds faster. After dinner with friends it takes me ages to go to sleep. My mind keeps playing out race starts and first corner scenarios, and each time I end up in front, my heart rate goes up and I have to try and relax all over again.

Day seven—the big race

After an okay sleep, the morning is pretty much as usual—I try to get a weather forecast again as it looks very gloomy out the window. I’m a bit nervous and I triple-check everything.

Zoë will watch the race with most of the other partners in the BMW stand. As we leave the compound for the last time, with me leading the way, I hear a few people from the crowd yell, “Go Tommy!” Geoff Brabham comes with me in the car to the marshalling area and Jenni comes over to see if I’m okay and tells me to “just relax”. I’m very nervous as I drive out onto the track in front of the packed stands. We wait on the grid for about five minutes, and this time the camera crew interview me. I haven’t rehearsed anything to say, and can’t remember now what I did say—something about just going as fast as I can. It’s great to see it on the big screen.

We get the green flag for the warm-up lap. I have to lead the way and set the pace, and all I can think is “what would Michael Schumacher do?” I slow up a lot towards the end of the lap to let the whole field bunch up as we come down to the grid. When we’re shown the 10 second board I rev it up to 5000 RPM then all the lights (above the start line) come on, and then go off (“GO, GO, GO!” as Murray Walker would have said).

I have a very good start and am flying towards the first corner. The track is wet and Russell is pretty close behind and on my right, ready to take the inside line if I’m hesitant. I brake about 20 metres earlier than I did in the dry, Russell gets a bit closer, but then I turn in and am around the first corner in the lead. I know then that all I have to do is stay on the track for five laps and I will win. Turn two is not a problem. Turn three, however, is very slippery. I brake about 50 metres earlier than before, thinking that will be more than safe, and it is, but not by much. Turn four is also wet so I stay in second gear until I get round it, where I used third before.

Turn five is pretty dry, but the wet grass and a close concrete wall on the exit has me lifting off a touch, where I was flat out in the dry. The rest of the lap has a definite dry line and I drive as fast as before, faster even. I seem to get away from the person behind me—I don’t know who it is any more—through the fast left and right combination at turns 11 and 12. Through 11, the MINI is leaning heavily to the right as I keep it very tight over to the left after the corner and just as the weight shifts back I turn in to 12 so that the weight keeps going to the left in one motion—it feels fantastic every lap.

I increase my lead substantially down the straight that follows. The next two corners are straight forward 90 degree right handers, the first I take in second, the next in third. Then I have to get right over to the right for the very tight left hand turn 15, made even tighter by the fact I have to stay left on the exit as it leads straight into the all-important right hand turn 16 onto the main straight.

I slow for turn 15 a little more than before—partly because of the dampness and partly because I’d heard Michael Schumacher was the slowest man on the track through that corner—and it paid off. I get a fantastic run onto the straight and there is now a huge gap back to second place. Coming down that straight the first time is sensational—I hit 175 km/h.

Now for the first corner, this time at full speed. I never really nailed it in practice or qualifying. I brake at 120 metres. I was braking as late as 70 metres before, and I now realise I have been braking too late all along. I have the brakes almost on full as I start to turn in and as I feel the back wheels going sideways, I lift off the brake and am pointed perfectly at the apex and the exit to the corner. I’m able to accelerate at almost full throttle from there, and feel I’ve really nailed that corner for the first time. I wave to the BMW stand on turn two and I feel myself loosening up a bit. I see whoever is behind me go straight off and onto the grass at turn three in the rear view mirror. I concentrate hard every inch of the way, braking points, good gear shifts, apexes, look ahead to the exit of the corners and after the third lap I’m miles out in front.

As I come up to turn three they’re waving yellow flags and I slow down a lot as I can’t see what is causing this. Second place catches up a bit. I see Suzie’s car in the pebbles and although we all expected it, I feel sorry for her.

I drive the rest of the race slower as I know where I can get away if I have to, and I really want to finish. Each lap, as I round the last bend, the crowd seems to be cheering louder than the last time. As I come down the straight for the last time and the chequered flag is waving I just can’t believe it—I’ve won!

About a million things go through my mind. “Geez, I’m glad I won or what would my mates have thought?”, “Did I just win the celebrity race?”, “I hope somebody taped it for me”, “What should I say at the press conference this time?”, “I wonder if I just drive out of here if they would catch me”, “Oh, I guess I can wind down the window and wave now!”

I’m glad to see Russell come up behind me on the warm down lap and even happier to see Mike Cooper zoom up next to me to say congrats, he finishes third. I wave to my family (and the whole of Brocky’s Hill, it seems) who are still shouting and cheering. Back at the grid we stop the cars and I step out and I raise my arms triumphantly. Several of the others come over to congratulate me, Russell and Mike Cooper. I’m interviewed again and photographed and then the three of us are taken up to the podium.

Stepping out onto the podium is the best. We all stand there and receive our trophies and it feels fantastic when I lift it up—all the people in the grandstand opposite cheered. The thought crosses my mind, “I wonder how much do you have to shake the champagne to make it come out?” Not much. I get some in my eye from Mike Cooper and it stings like hell for a second; he and Russell make sure I get thoroughly soaked. I have a few big gulps of it, after I finish spraying them, one more raising of the trophy and the crowd cheers again.

We go into a room behind the podium, each sign three posters (I have no idea what for) get a bottle of water and head into the press conference. “I just want to thank Qantas, MINI and BMW driver training for the best week…” I am drowned out by the celebs laughing and cheering. After that I’m taken to the Qantas corporate suite where Sherryn is waiting—she’s absolutely ecstatic. She had the whole suite cheering for me during the race. I am introduced to the patrons and they all give me huge applause. I’m asked a few questions on a microphone and there’s more applause and laughter. Sherryn is genuinely pleased for me and it feels great to have given her and Qantas such a great outcome. I do an interview for Channel 9 news and my cheeks are starting to ache.

Quite some time has passed by the time I get back to the compound, and it’s great to finally kiss my biggest fan, my wife Zoë! There is now only just enough time to get lunch before the main race. We hurry over to the BMW facility, have a quick lunch with Mike and Jacqui Hammond and then take our seats for the F1 race, just in time for the warm up lap.

There’s a huge smash at the first corner and Ralf Shcumacher goes flying through the air. The whole BMW stand is gasping and hoping he’s alright. He is. I remember the one piece of advice he gave us when he visited at Sandown, “Just make sure you get round the first corner.”

The highlight of the F1 race is Mark Webber’s fifth place—even though there were only nine cars left in the race. He showed that he is a survivor and a very good driver.

The flight home is on time and uneventful. The flight attendant welcomes me on board the flight over the PA, which is nice. When we get off the plane in Sydney, my dad and sisters have set up a banner with champagne and party poppers to greet me. I’m so surprised and glad to see them all. When we got home I see the kids had made huge banners and hung them around the house. I’m too tired to really take much more. It’s a really strange feeling going to sleep that night, back in my own house. I’m glad to be home, but I really want more of that “racing car” life…

Finishing order:

1. Tom Browell – Qantas competition winner
2. Russell Mark OAM – Olympic Gold and Silver medallist
3. Mike Cooper – Chairman of John Cooper Works
4. Jon Stevens – Singer
5. Greg Alexander – Former Rugby League International, presenter 2UE
6. David Campese OAM – Former Wallaby and international record holder
7. Matt Tilley – Presenter Fox FM
8. Mike Hammond – Radio and Foxtel presenter
9. Colin Marland – Winner of the 2001 Grand Prix Ball auction
10. Frank Farina – Head coach of the Socceroos
11. James Brayshaw – Presenter Triple M
12. Krista Vendy – Face of Foster’s for the Grand Prix
13. Layne Beachley – Four times World surfing champion
14. Prue Jackson – Model
15. Scott Cam – Presenter, Backyard Blitz, Channel 9
16. Michelle Walsh – Presenter and reporter, Escape with ET, Channel 9
17. Karina Brown – Host, Body and Soul, Channel 9
18. Michael Caton – Actor and host, Hot Property, Channel 7
19. Johnnie Cass – Personal trainer and actor
20. Katrina Warren – Resident Vet, Harry’s Practice, Channel 7
21. John Burns – Presenter 3AW
22. Antonio Sabato Jnr (DNF*) – Actor
23. Suzie Wilks (DNF*) – Host Changing Rooms, Channel 9
24. Ben Dark (DNF*) – Presenter Getaway, Channel 9
25. Alicia Molik (DNF*) – Australia’s No. 1 female professional tennis player

*Did Not Finish

The BMW Driver Training Instructor Team:

• Geoff Brabham
• Rauno Aaltonen
• Allan Moffat
• Derek Walls
• Alistair Bye
• Tomas Mezera
• Peter McKay
• Scott Jacob
• Gary Brabham
• Jenni Thompson
• Steve Ellery