During a racing trip in Portugal with Tom Coronel, Rob Kamphues is once again reminded that there are drivers, and then there are drivers.
I can only speculate about how exceptionally good Max Verstappen is. I’ve never raced against him, not on a karting track, not on a simulator, let alone on a real circuit in a race car with actual downforce. However, I do regularly share the track with no small names like Tom Coronel, Renger van der Zande, and Robert Doornbos. From them, I’ve learned one thing: I have just enough talent to see how good they are. I can keep up with them for two, three corners, see what they do differently, and then they disappear from sight. As Martin Brundle once said: ‘I was doing fine until mid-corner, then I ran out of talent’.
Such Remarks Have the Opposite Effect on Tom
Recently, I had another adventure with Tom. A mutual friend had invited us to spend a few days at Portimão, wrestling with a race-BMW. Portimão, a fantastic track, it’s a shame it’s not permanently on the Formula 1 calendar, BMW 2.4 CS race edition, Michelin slicks, wings, 430 hp with turbo, fantastic stuff. The team boss once again emphasized that nothing was at stake, that it was all about having fun, and that it would be nice if the cars could return home in one piece.
Such remarks have the opposite effect on Tom. He immediately says: ‘Kamphues, you are three seconds slower than me today’. To which I respond that it has been less than a second before, to which Tom shouts: ‘if you are less than a second slower than me, I will quit racing immediately’. Anyway, the atmosphere was immediately good.”Come take a lap with me,” Tom invited me. “I’ll show you the track.” It sounded friendly, but in reality, he just wanted to impress. Before we even left the pit lane, the car was sideways on the asphalt, and I had to watch the rest of the lap through my side window. Tom got out of the car with a grin. “Well, I had to remember how the circuit goes too.” The real competition begins on days when I accidentally manage to be fast. Then Tom is sure he can do it one and a half seconds faster: “I think two.” If he doesn’t immediately manage to leave me far behind, things really heat up.
Excuses I’ve Never Heard Max Use
“Yes, but I had someone sitting next to me,” “yes, but you had newer tires,” “yes, but the track is much warmer now.” Coronel pulls out all the drivers’ excuses, excuses I’ve never heard Max Verstappen use because he doesn’t need them. But then the real Coronel emerges.
Ten minutes before the end of the training, he has a new set of tires mounted. The sun is behind the clouds, the asphalt and the air cooler, and in no time he drives the announced lap time, three seconds faster than me. The worst part is that he sends me a photo showing that time while he’s driving. “Took off my glove, fished my phone out of my overalls, photographed the dashboard, entered the code because facial recognition doesn’t work with your helmet on, looked up your name and sent the photo. It’s that simple.”
I told you: I have just enough talent to see how good others are. And Max Verstappen is exactly as much better than Tom as Tom is better than me. Just imagine how good Max is.”
