Prodigal sit-down with racing legend Stefan Johansson
By The Editors, published on 11 August 2011
It’s not every day that you get an opportunity to meet a racing legend. Even less one who’s driven for Enzo Ferrari in F1. And it sure as shit isn’t common to come across a race-car driver who is as laid-back as he is earnest, and as talented as he is passionate.
We’re talking about Swedish lion Stefan Johansson, folks, a guy who has been racing for three decades now across most of the driving categories that exist (including Formula One, IndyCar and Le Mans). Oh, and he’s even won the 24 Hours of Le Mans and notched up two victories at Sebring.
Over all this time, Johansson has driven for some of the world’s most prestigious teams and manufacturers including Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche, Mercedes, Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, Audi and Acura. Quite a record indeed.
So, we probed Stefan about why he drove and raced (answer: when he doesn’t, he drives his family insane…). We bantered about how increased safety standards have affected driving and drivers today. We questioned the removal of many of the mechanical interactions that used to exist between a driver and his car. He talked about the pressures of F1 and his total lack of interest in road cars (“they’re like John Deere tractors!”). And by God, we had a superb time.
But words can’t capture the man or his mannerisms. Nor can they convey the excitement of your editors in being cooped up in a sumptuous mobile home with Johansson as the mechanical mayhem of the recent Total 24 Hours of Spa thundered on around us.
So let’s cut to the chase, shall we?
Enjoy the video and be sure to tune in next week when Johansson talks to us through a special line of timepieces he’s developed…
Prodigal sit-down with racing legend Stefan Johansson
We sit down and talk cars – very fast cars – with Swedish racing legend Stefan Johansson. He’s only raced for Enzo Ferrari in F1 and won the 24 Hours of LeMans. Apart from that, he’s just a great guy with a very odd job.
