TURNING PRO #MadyMyMark

on November 21, 2013 Off the track news with 12 comments

Mercedes signed me to race for AMG in the FIA GT Championship in 1998 and I was even paid to race! It was a huge relief for me that I didn’t have to look for money any more.

Working with professionals in the GT Championship was a huge learning curve.

Working with professionals in the GT Championship was a huge learning curve.

I was super lucky at that time of my career (I was 20/21 years old) to work with AMG Mercedes and Bridgestone, and to have great role models such as Bernd Schneider and Klaus Ludwig as my team-mates as I was so inexperienced with that type of racing. It was a tremendous help. Even though the GT programme was curtailed after Le Mans 1999, it then forced my hand to return to my original ambition of single-seater racing and Formula One.

Ends//

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12 Comments

  • Derek P
    on November 21, 2013 Reply

    I was just thinking looking at that picture that you probably weigh less now (out of necessity) than you did then!

  • beltedradial
    on November 21, 2013 Reply

    You’ve done a cracking job representing yourself on the world stage. I’ve seen you being super human, but most importantly human. No water bottle ever felt safe in your hands at a press conference. 😉 I would never have become so avid an F1 fan if you weren’t there to follow.

  • Mark j
    on November 21, 2013 Reply

    Another excellent peice can’t wait for my mademymark t-shirt to arrive !

  • Anne Lambert
    on November 21, 2013 Reply

    We are loving these little snippets from your F1 life, so much we didnt know. Keep ’em coming. we love you. x

  • Niccolò
    on November 21, 2013 Reply

    thank you very much for what you’ve done in your great career!! you are a source of inspiration for young men like me. you teach me how to love the f1 😉

  • Diane Marcou
    on November 21, 2013 Reply

    I went to my first F1 race with my dad at 3 years old. I’m still hooked because of drivers like you. Thank you.

  • Ann Roberts
    on November 21, 2013 Reply

    Absolutely loved watching you in F1, not always getting the results you deserve but life’s a bitch!! I and my Mum (86) will really miss you and wish you massive good luck in the next phase of your career, will watch you whenever possible. We met you in Cardiff and my Mum has never recovered, you’re her hero!!! Thanks for giving us an insight into your life, very good luck to you, Ann and your family.

  • Pete Barter
    on November 21, 2013 Reply

    A great career Mark, you’ve done us proud and just as great as Sir Jack & AJ.
    Wishing you all the best on a track that you’ve been successful on in the past and hope you can win your last race….shame you can’t plant a fist in the face of Mutt Marko as you exot the garage Sunday night!

  • Greg Newling
    on November 21, 2013 Reply

    Great career,Mark.I’ve followed it since the F/Ford days,it’s been a great ride.I hope the Porsche drive works out for you and you can tick off LeMans from your cv

  • peter dale
    on November 22, 2013 Reply

    Aarh I have very fond memories of the 1998 season as that it when I first met you on the train when we spoke about you testing for AMG at Barcelona and forthcoming race at Le Mans. Super impressed you then wrote back to me :-)and the rest is history as they say

  • olena
    on November 22, 2013 Reply

    Mark is the best!!!!!!

  • Brad C
    on November 22, 2013 Reply

    You have a great story Mark. You should write an AUTObiography one day.

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