Johnny's first Formula 1 test drive
September 1987

Herbert Flies in Benetton test!

This article appeared in the 17th September 1987 issue of Autosport.

Prior to going to Spa to clinch the Lucas British F3 championship last weekend, Johnny Herbert impressed onlookers mightily when he was given his first taste of Fl power by the Benetton Formula team at Brands Hatch last Wednesday.

Despite using Thierry Boutsen's seat and thus not being as comfortable in the car as he would have liked, Herbert scorched round the 1.2 mile Indy circuit in 36.4s, some 0.3sec quicker than Boutsen managed on the day. Although the Belgian was out at a different time of the day, Herbert's performance caused quite a stir, being just apparently 0.2sec from the mark set by Ayrton Senna's Lotus-Honda. As a comparison, Nigel Mansell topped the day's times with a best of 34.99s – an average speed of 124.153mph, the fastest ever recorded lap of the Indy circuit – and Derek Warwick recorded 37.4s with the Arrows-Megatron.

Herbert himself was typically modest in appraising his performance:

"I think I did OK but I could probably have done a better job if I had been for a proper fitting in the car. I was moving around in the seat and they had to make some shoulder pads for me. I was still moving. though, and so more foam had to go in. With the forces generated by Fl cars, bobbing up and down like a duck in the cockpit is not the best way to drive!"

Despite not feeling totally at one with the car, Herbert did not find turbocharged F1 horsepower too much of a problem:

"I was not sure what to expect but I suppose I was anticipating the power to come in with more of a bang. In actual fact everything was quite smooth and progressive and the whole feel was lighter than I expected."

Benetton Formula team boss Peter Collins has watched Herbert's F3 progress closely this year and was impressed by the 23-year-old's performance: "He completed around 40 laps and obviously enjoyed himself. He did a very good job."

Johnny's F3 team boss Eddie Jordan was also present at the test and was very enthusiastic at his protégé's progress:

"It was like looking at something you could not believe. The thing that impressed me was the reaction of some of the Fl luminaries when they saw the times he was turning in. Patrick Head, Gerard Ducarouge and even Ayrton Senna, they all came down to the pit... Remember that Johnny has won the F3 title in a year when I believe there has been a greater depth of talent than at any time since 1978."

With the identity of the second Benetton F1 driver still undecided next year, it is not impossible that Herbert might find himself joining the F1 ranks next year.

These historic reports are from the archives of fan Harry Lythgoe
Many thanks to Autosport and the writer for the above report.
All rights reserved. This page prepared 20th June 1998