Virgin Radio interviews Johnny

On 17th November 1998, Harriet Scott interviewed Johnny on Virgin Radio:

HS: Welcome Johnny.

JH: Good evening (cheekily).

HS: Good evening. What time is it where you are?

JH: Erm? It's in the evening? About eight o'clock.

HS: About eight o'clock? 'Cos your in sunny Monaco.

JH: Well - dark Monaco!

HS: Is it dark? Is it not??

JH: It's dark.

HS: So describe what it is like out there so we can all drool and get extremely jealous.

JH: Well its quite tough because when you do phone up eventually, its always sunny here and always raining there.

HS: Mmm.

JH: That's pretty tough I must admit, having all this sun.

HS: (Laughs)

JH: (Laughs)

HS: You really haven't got any sympathy from anyone in London what so ever. You do realise that don't you?

JH: Well I must say, it's quite cold at the moment. It's not freezing, but it's pretty chilly.

HS: Not as cold as London.

HS: Do you feel completely at home now, there in Monaco? 'Cos you have said in the past that it isn't particularly a family orientated place.

JH: It's not too bad! It's something that is one of these, things you've got to take into account when you move out here and we are getting by, you know. The kids are happy here so that is one of the main things anyway.

HS: That's all right then.

HS: And as far as your career goes, you've had a bit of a disappointing year this year with only one point in the championship. You were expecting to do a bit better I suppose weren't you?

JH: Well we were, and even the team was. But that didn't quite, quite come up. We had some chances, that we had. But we had some other problems, and it didn't quite come off. But I'm looking forward to joining Stewart-Ford next year. And there's a lot of things changing behind the scenes with the team, and it's looking very good at the moment.   I'm really, really looking forward to the start of the season.

HS: When does that season start then?

JH: March (laughs)! We've got a bit of time, but we've got a lot of work to do before then.

HS: So you're not going to put your feet up or anything?

JH: Nope. I'd love to but I don't think I'm going to get the time. No.

HS: How's the relationship between you and Jean Alesi now?

JH: Well, it's okay. He's sort of one of those guys, for some reason, who doesn't want to come face to face with you. He'd rather go behind your back and do it in the press. It annoys me a bit. I'd rather have someone - if they've got a problem - I'd rather they came to me and talk about it. He's always got his dummy in his mouth; he's always spitting it out, throwing a wobbly. He just just disrupts things within the team, so that it is quite difficult. But as far as our relationship, that's fine. But I just wish he would come and speak to me if he has got a problem with me.

HS: You're challenging him hands on?

JH: Yeah, well again, if there is a problem, fine, come to me. Face to face, man to man, and we'll have a talk about it, and hopefully settle the issue.

HS: Absolutely. So who's your best mate on the circuit?

JH: Well, the guy I get on very well with is David Coulthard. He's a great guy and very easy to get on with, he is a lot of fun as well. And he, hopefully, will have a good season next year (and McLaren) - maybe it will be his turn to take the world championship. You never know.

HS: You started off in karting, didn't you?

JH: Yes I did. I started when I was about six or seven. So I started pretty young. But I do know that Ayrton Senna started when he was about three. So, the earlier you start, obviously the better you'll be.

HS: So is it nostalgia that's caused you to do your Karting Challenges?

JH: Well, it is something that, originally, it was just something we did for the Fan Club, because my mum and dad run the Fan Club. And it was an opportunity for Fan Club members to come along, and they could always race against me, and have some fun. But then - after the first year or maybe the second year, I can't remember - we decided that we may as well do it as a charity event as well. I had a problem, just after the birth of my first daughter, she had a kidney complaint. And because of SPARKS, which is all in aid of children, it was the obvious step to take, to do it with SPARKS. We've been doing that for the last couple of years and it has been very successful, for me and for them.

HS: So you're flying over to England this weekend then?

JH: Yeah, I'm off to Finland for the weekend, or part of the weekend. And I fly over, well, I think I actually get in on Sunday. I'll be there for Sunday and I'll be there for the start.

HS: Okay excellent. Well you're a busy man so thanks very much for your time anyway.

JH: No problem.

HS: Take care it was lovely talking to you.

Thanks to Zoe Linehan for transcribing and sending the above interview.
This page prepared 26th November 1997. All rights reserved.