Even with seven crosses on his back, Emerson Fittipaldi discovers new racing disciplines. On Monday, he tested a racing tractor in Most and was excited about driving in Buggyra. “The tractor has a lot of torque and is also accelerating quite well,” said the two-time F1 world champion in an interview with Czech journalists. Among other things, he revealed in him who he understood the most in the pedok of Formula 1 and what he says about the current monoposts.
How was the ride in the circuit truck?
I got on the tractor for the first time in my life, I didn’t succeed in Brazil. And it was a nice experience. The tractor drove nicely, but it was something else. Mainly because of its weight. The car has a lot of torque and also accelerates quite well.
Is it harder to get used to a smaller or larger car?
It’s always harder in the faster. You feel the power, you have to go precisely in corners. It does not forgive any mistakes.
What was your favorite race track and why?
Nürburgring. It was dangerous, but also unique.
Buggyra pilot and European champion Adam Lacko says that the tractor is something like a giant go-kart. Did you feel the same way behind his wheel?
To do that, I would have to drive many more kilometers in a tractor. It has very good brakes. Especially here in Most, they are used a lot. And if I drove longer, I would definitely improve my times.
Have you tried almost everything in the world of circuit racing, which formula or car did you enjoy the most?
The biggest adrenaline and fun was on the short mile circuit in IndyCar. In the mid-1990s, we rode 200 laps there and were overloaded with 5.5 G. They were very aggressive cars.
Are you still following Formula 1?
Yes and in enough detail. Today they are completely different races. Especially when it comes to security. All those carbon shells and other safety features, that was not the case in our years. It was a very dangerous race.
Who do you think is the best Formula 1 driver of all time?
That’s hard for you. The Brazilian will tell you that Ayrton Senna, the Frenchman, that “Professor” Alain Prost (laughter). I’ve always been very close to Jackie Stewart.
When was the last time you rode a Formula 1 monopost?
I tried Kimi Räikkönen’s Lotus seven years ago. As for maximum speed, it was not much higher. But what was completely different was the grip and the ride in general. Development has come a long way.
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