RACING LIVES
MY Greatest RIVAL
Mind manager versus tenacious talent, data-driven versus dogged – but despite their opposing styles there was always a mutual respect on the track
DAVID BRABHAM ON ALLAN Mc NISH
THIS HAS TO BE MY OLD sparring partner and lifelong rival Allan McNish. We went through the ranks together, starting in Vauxhall Lotus in ’88. I’d just arrived in England, and he and Mika [Häkkinen] were the team to beat. Then, in Formula 3 in ’89 with Bowman, Allan was my main rival for the championship with the West Surrey team. He was younger, smaller and mouthier than me. We’re two very different people [Allan says David was analytical, good on set-up and into mind management], and it was a fierce rivalry.