62
MOTORSPORT DAYS ANNUAL
MotorsportDays.com
INTERVIEW
MSD:
Which championships has TeamParker
Racing competed in this year?
SP:
During the 2014 season, Team Parker has
competed in the Blancpain Endurance
Championship, Gentleman's Trophy, finish-
ing third in the championship, including first
at the 1000km Nurburgring, second at the
Spa 24 Hours and third at Silverstone. The
team has also competed in the British GT
Championship, GT4, finishing third in the
championship, including first in the Silver-
stone 500km, first at Snetterton, and third at
Donington. Also, the Porsche Carrera Cup
GB, Pro Am 1 Champions and Pro Am 2
Champions, finishing first at Le Mans Pro Am
1 and first at Pro Brands Hatch GP Caterham
R300.
MSD:
What’s your role on and off a race
weekend? Also, as a competitive racer
yourself, do you think this makes you a bet-
ter team principal?
SP:
Away from the track my main role is to
make sure that everything is planned and
ready for the following events and seasons,
such as logistics, staff, catering and hotels.
Also, there’s long-term planning, such as
which championships we are looking to be
involved with, and looking for new customers
and sponsors. When the trucks leave for the
circuit (at least I don't have to drive them any
more!) my role is then Team Manager and
Engineer. I still enjoy rolling my sleeves up
and getting involved, although this is less
practical now due to the size of the business.
MSD:
When teammates are competing
with one another, such as Lewis Hamilton
and Nico Rosberg both competing for the
Drivers’ Championship in the 2014 For-
mula 1 season, how hard is it to handle
inter-team driver competition?
SP:
To be honest, it is very difficult, especially
in the situation where drivers are bringing
their own budget, as you cannot give team
orders, all you can do is provide the best
equal equipment and be completely honest
and open with them.
MSD:
You finished racing at the early age
of 21 to become a team principal. What
was your reasoning behind this decision?
SP:
To be honest, I loved racing, it was all I
had ever wanted to do. In 1996 when racing
Vauxhall Junior against the likes of Dan Wel-
don and Andrew Kirkaldy, I was already 21
and quite honestly realised that I did not have
anything like the talent of these guys. It wasn't
the hardest decision to stop, but it was very
difficult for the first few years of being on the
other side of the wall, and to that effect I
don't think I drove a car on track again until
about 2001!
Racing teams are one of the most important ingredients to
winning a championship and Team Parker Racing is known
as one of the best in the industry, having won numerous
titles with top drivers since 1997. Stuart Parker tells
MSD
what it’s like to be a team owner and driver.
Behind the
scenes at Team
Parker Racing
.
