Matchett at the 2005 United States Grand Prix

Steve Matchett, born in England on December 23, 1962, is currently a commentator for American cable TV station SPEED Channel on its various F1 programs.^[1] Notably, he hosts F1 races with David Hobbs, Peter Windsor and Bob Varsha. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3008x2000, 4312 KB) SPEED commentator Steve Matchett at the 2005 United States Grand Prix Photo by Dan Smith. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3008x2000, 4312 KB) SPEED commentator Steve Matchett at the 2005 United States Grand Prix Photo by Dan Smith. ... The 2005 United States Grand Prix, was a Formula One motor race held on June 19, 2005 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... is the 357th day of the year (358th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... SPEED Channel, based in Charlotte, NC, was launched on New Years Day 1996, by Roger Werner, as SpeedVision. ... Formula One, abbreviated to F1 and also known as Grand Prix racing, is the highest class of single-seat open-wheel auto racing. ... Formula One, abbreviated to F1 and also known as Grand Prix racing, is the highest class of single-seat open-wheel auto racing. ... David Hobbs (b. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Varsha (left) with fellow Formula One commentator David Hobbs at the 2005 United States Grand Prix Bob Varsha (born April 21, 1951 in Northport, New York) is probably the most famous on-air personality for SPEED Channel. ...

He is also a columnist for the Speed Channel website, and is a contributor to and technical editor of F1 Racing magazine.^[2] SPEED Channel, based in Charlotte, NC, was launched on New Years Day 1996, by Roger Werner, as SpeedVision. ... F1 Racing is a monthly magazine focused on Formula One racing which launched in 1996. ...

He has published a semi-autobiographical trilogy based around his years in the F1 pit lane.

Education

Loughborough University (technical college) 1979-1982, City & Guilds Mechanical Engineering Apprenticeship Loughborough University is located in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. ... The City--80. ... Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of skilled crafts practitioners, which is still popular in some countries. ...

Early Career

He started working as a mechanic for Greypaul, a UK Ferrari dealership in 1986; then a BMW dealership from 1989 to 1990.^[2] For other uses, see Ferrari (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see BMW (disambiguation). ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ...

The Formula 1 Years

Employed by Nigel Stepney, Matchett worked as a race mechanic with the Benetton F1 team from February 1, 1990, through February 13, 1998. During this period Michael Schumacher won the Drivers' Championship in both 1994 and 1995 before leaving the team, moving to Ferrari the following year; while Matchett and his team won the Constructors' Championship in 1995.^[2] Throughout his time with Benetton he worked with many key drivers and personalities of the era. Michael Schumacher; Nelson Piquet; Ricardo Patrese; Martin Brundle; Johnny Herbert; Gerhard Berger and Jean Alesi all drove F1 cars prepared by Matchett. Nigel Stepney is an English born Formula One mechanic. ... Benetton Formula Ltd. ... is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 44th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Michael Schumacher (pronounced / /, born January 3, 1969, in Hürth Hermülheim, Germany)[1] is a former Formula One driver, and seven-time world champion. ... For other uses, see Ferrari (disambiguation). ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... Michael Schumacher (pronounced / /, born January 3, 1969, in Hürth Hermülheim, Germany)[1] is a former Formula One driver, and seven-time world champion. ... Nelson Piquet Souto Maior (born August 17, 1952), more commonly known as Nelson Piquet, is a Brazilian racing driver who was Formula One world champion in 1981, 1983, and 1987. ... Riccardo Patrese (born April 17, 1954) in Padua, Italy was a Formula One racing driver from 1977 until 1993. ... Martin Brundle (born June 1, 1959) is an English motor racing and former Formula One driver known chiefly as the man who ran Ayrton Senna close in British Formula Three and as ITV Sport F1 commentator. ... Johnny Herbert driving for Benetton in 1995 John Paul Herbert (born June 25, 1964, Romford, England) is a British ex-Formula One motor racing driver, who enjoyed much success in lower-level motor racing but never managed to achieve the same level of performance at the top level of motorsport. ... Gerhard Berger, born August 27, 1959 in Wörgl is a popular Austrian ex-Grand Prix racing driver who owns 50% of Formula One team Scuderia Toro Rosso. ... Jean Alesi, (born Giovanni Alesi June 11, 1964) is a French racing driver of both French and Sicilian origins. ...

He formed a close working relationship with both Stepney and Ross Brawn who was then technical director of Benetton. Brawn and Matchett remained on amicable terms even after Brawn's move to Ferrari at the end of 1996 and Matchett's own move into television four years later. During the Speed Channel Formula 1 broadcasts Matchett often cites conversations he has had with Brawn - and indeed other leading F1 engineers - by way of explaining to his viewers the pressing technical issues of the day. Ross Brawn in the pit lane at the 2003 USGP. Dr Ross Brawn was born November 23, 1954 in Manchester, Lancashire, England and attended Reading School in Reading, Berkshire, England. ... SPEED Channel, based in Charlotte, NC, was launched on New Years Day 1996, by Roger Werner, as SpeedVision. ...

Television

He made his television debut for Speedvision in 2000 filling in as a substitute commentator during the Canadian GP weekend.^[2] He also hosted Formula 1 Decade 2003 to 2005 on Speed Channel. SPEED Channel, based in Charlotte, was launched on New Years Day 1996, by Roger Werner, as SpeedVision. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... Formula 1 Decade was a show on SPEED Channel. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... SPEED Channel, based in Charlotte, NC, was launched on New Years Day 1996, by Roger Werner, as SpeedVision. ...

Bibliography

Matchett's F1 trilogy: Formula One, abbreviated to F1 and also known as Grand Prix racing, is the highest class of single-seat open-wheel auto racing. ... A trilogy is a set of three works of art, usually literature or film, that are connected and can be seen as a single work, as well as three individual ones. ...

• Steve Matchett (1995). Life in the Fast Lane: The Story of the Benetton Grand Prix Year. ISBN 0-297-81610-1. 
• Steve Matchett (1999). The Mechanic's Tale: Life in the Pit Lanes of Formula One. ISBN 0-7603-0754-7. 
• Steve Matchett (2004). The Chariot Makers: Assembling the Perfect Formula 1 Car. ISBN 0-7528-5649-9. 

Philosophy

The following quote is from Matchett's Speed Channel biog. SPEED Channel, based in Charlotte, NC, was launched on New Years Day 1996, by Roger Werner, as SpeedVision. ...

"Honestly, the world confuses me. The real world that is. I don’t understand it and I don’t really desire to. I’ve tried and I’ve failed. I used to follow the news, keep up with current affairs but I found I was becoming so disheartened by all the things in the world that we, as individuals, have no control over, that I made a conscious effort to shut it out. The facts are these: I can help someone to cross the road; prevent a kid from running under a bus; help a neighbour with a leaky tap or a reluctant starter motor. But there is nothing on earth I can do, absolutely nothing to prevent a bomber (for reasons I find totally unfathomable) blowing himself and countless innocents to death. All I can do is to weep and feel beyond useless.

"So, some years ago I made a simple decision: to help where I can and do what I can to shield myself from the bad stuff, the evil oily slick that threatens to engulf us. For some time now my hearing and my short-term memory haven’t been so great, I wonder if some of this is a result of my attitude to what’s happening around me?

"Some may call this simple philosophy running away from reality, escapism, but, frankly, I don’t care what they call it. I do know this, however: by immersing myself only in what inspires, I have become a considerably happier person. A friend once told me that my approach to life has the feel of Buddhism about it. I’m not particularly religious, certainly not a practising Buddhist, but if we do share a similar ethos, well, it does make me feel a little less selfish. And I’m all for that.

"Formula 1 is part of my life: Escapism in its purest form. It’s a world I do understand, that I do follow and I take great enjoyment from sharing my thoughts of that world. The competition between Ferrari and McLaren, the passionate, heart-pounding desire for each team to beat the other to the winner’s trophy? Yes, I get that. The rifle crack of an exhaust as the throttle is blipped; the banshee-like wail from an engine running at 19,000rpm? Yep, I get that too! Just the thought of it sends a tingle down the spine! Problems in a pit stop, a wheel nut spinning out of reach of a mechanic’s grasping fingers! React! React! Reach for the spare nut; set the gun to tighten, align the drive pegs twixt wheel and axle; pound the nut home; release the car back into action! No panic, just ultra-swift beautifully poised efficiency! Yes, yes, I get it, I get all of that! Wow, I’ve never typed so fast or used so many exclamation points! Forgive me but that is what grand prix racing does for me. It excites! It’s so much more that the greatest sport in the world, it’s the greatest lifestyle in the world. I know I’m exceedingly lucky to have it, to be a part of it, and to share it with friends, with colleagues and Speed’s viewers, well, it’s just the icing on a fabulous cake."

Notes

Matchett is currently restoring a home in the Cognac region of France. This article is about the city in France. ...

In The Chariot Makers he describes himself reading Three Men in a Boat, his favorite book, when he is joined by characters from that book. Those characters become characters in Chariot Makers.

References