Finnish
F1 Driver Mika Salo
Shifts Into High Gear
by
Tiina Alanko
Associate Editor
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| Mika
Salo is a highly-rated Formula One competitor who drives
for Panasonic Toyota Racing, the newest team entering
Formula One this season. |
Finn-Power is a sponsor of Formula One driver Mika Salo. Salo
drives for Panasonic Toyota Racing, the newest team entering
the Formula One world in the 2002 season. Last year, Salo
began Toyota's extensive testing program and developing the
team's prototype F1 car. Salo and the team have made a huge
commitment to the F1 program with one aim; to one day take
both the FIA Formula 1 Drivers' and Constructors' World Championship
titles.
Salo is a highly-rated Formula One competitor who has driven
for several teams in the past. During the 1988 season, he
made his debut on the international racing scene in Formula
Ford. Several years ago, Salo captured first place in Formula
Ford European Championship against current F1 world champion,
Michael Schumacher.
As this issue of the FINN-ISH LINE goes to press, Mika
is ranked 14th in the Formula 1 Drivers' Championship, which
is very respectable for his first season with Panasonic Toyota
Racing. Recently, the FINN-ISH LINE's associate editor,
Tiina Alanko had an opportunity to interview Mika via e-mail.
Excerpts from their cyber-space conversation follow:
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Finn-Power:
Where do you currently reside?
Mika Salo: I have lived in London, England for over
10 years. But, it was time to move somewhere else. I moved
to Switzerland with my family - my wife Noriko, my son Max,
and our dog Layla.
FP: How did you get involved in racing?
MS: I was five years old when my father let me test
a kart. Ever since then my life has only been racing. I began
real racing when I entered Formula One in 1994. Although,
competing in the British Formula 3 Championship (1989-1990)
took all my time, it was not as professional as where I am
today.
FP: How did your relationship with Toyota begin?
MS: My manager Mike Greasley took the opportunity to
present me to Ove Andersson, the President of Toyota Motorsport,
while I was driving for the Sauber team. We negotiated a deal
during the 2000 season. I found Toyota to be a major challenge…a
challenge that I have been looking forward to for a long time.
To be part of a team built from scratch is really a once in
a lifetime opportunity.
FP: What does it feel like to be part of a new Formula
One team?
MS: This will be a big challenge since we are an entirely
new team. For me it wasn't difficult at all to return to the
Grand Prix after a one year break…since I had done it
for many years. But of course everybody was excited because
we really didn't know what to expect this year. Everything
has gone pretty well so far. There is still a lot to do, but
we are developing all the time.
FP: What do you think of Toyota's new Formula One
car?
MS: I find the new Toyota TF102 to be a very nice car
to drive. We started testing it in January at our home track
Paul Ricard in France and at the Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona,
Spain. The car has Toyota's own V10 engine. Our team is the
only one besides Ferrari that is producing both the chassis
and the engine under one roof.
Two championship points in my pocket already, I'm really looking
forward to the remaining races this season. We are making
our first appearance in the United States at the US Grand
Prix at Indianapolis in September.
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FP:
What does it take to be a good race driver?
MS: You must have an incredible desire to compete and
drive, as well as the desire to win. You also need discipline
and be willing to sacrifice since race car drivers do not
have a normal life. It is extremely important to be healthy
- both physically and mentally. To maintain all this requires
a huge amount of work.
FP: How do you train your body for the races? Do
you have to practice daily…and what kind of training
program do you follow?
MS: I have to train every day for approximately 5-6
hours. I like to ride my mountain bike for a couple of hours.
Afterwards, I workout at my gym. During the winter, I have
found cross-country skiing to be a good training method. Riding
snowmobiles or karting have also been a great workout for
me. They both are very hard physically but also good for the
eyes as they have to work 100% in high speeds.
FP: With such well known Finnish drivers as you,
JJ Lehto, and Mika Häkkinen, how popular is racing in
Finland?
MS: According to television spectator figures, Formula
1 is the most popular sport in Finland. Over 20% of our total
population of 5 million watch the races on TV. Racing has
become very popular in Finland, but rally still has its own
place in their hearts. The difference between F1 and rally
as a sport is, even people who are not interested in sports
or cars in general are usually interested in F1.
FP: I read that you used to play hockey when you
were younger. How long did you play hockey?
MS: I can't even remember the team anymore. I played
until I was 13 years old. Then the hobbies (ice hockey and
racing) started to interfere with each other…and I chose
racing.
FP: What kind of car do you drive outside the race
track?
MS:
I have a Lexus IS 200 and Lexus SC 430. I think the SC 430
is the best car I have ever driven. I also have - as a memory
from the Ferrari times - a Ferrari 550 Maranello. I think
nearly every F1 driver has one Ferrari in his garage. I also
like old cars. In fact, I am building a special Chevrolet
Camaro, which will be something unique with a 3.5 liter Toyota
racing engine.
FP: What has been your biggest challenge in racing?
MS: I think I haven't met the biggest challenge yet.
I think working with the new team such as Panasonic Toyota
Racing is my biggest challenge so far. I have a big responsibility
as the team trusts my skills and experience. I find myself
as one of the key people as I try to help the team adapt to
F1. The driver is always a key person, but in our case the
key I'm holding is even bigger.
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