Motorsport Mentality Podcast

Dan Cammish is, arguably, one of the most decorated drivers competing at the top of national motorsport today. His early years were plagued with budgetary difficulties, but Cammish still managed a dominant year in Formula Ford - 24 wins from 24 starts - and two Porsche Carrera Cup GB titles before graduating to the BTCC. In 2019, in just his second season, the Yorkshireman was cruelly denied the BTCC title at the final race, with a rare brake failure. Wind forward to this day, and he's still driven to put his name on that illustrious trophy with NAPA Racing UK. This chat with host Damian Meaden takes in all of the above, and plenty more besides, with one of British motorsport's true talents.

Motorsport Mentality is back for the 2024 season, and kicking things off is Alpine WEC racer Ferdinand Habsburg, as he prepares for his first-year racing in the top-tier Hypercar category. In this conversation with Damian Meaden, Ferdinand – a descendant of one of Europe’s most significant and renowned dynasties and one of the sport’s great personalities – reflects on a range of topics including his formative years, coming through the single-seater ranks, adapting to sportscars and his philosophy on life.

Motorsport Mentality ushers in the festive break with a special episode, featuring the new Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Award winner, Joseph Loake. Joseph joins host Damian Meaden to discuss his formative years in Formula 4 and GB3, to give a unique insight into the mind of a driver making his way through the single-seater ranks, and to reflect on a life-changing few weeks since winning the biggest prize of his career to-date.

Katy Fairman's story begins one school summer holiday when, out of boredom, she decided to set up her first blog about Formula 1. Fast forward a decade, and she's one of the UK's most in-demand freelancers, internet personalities and host of Small Torque, which ranks among the nation's favourite motorsport podcasts. But it hasn't all been plain sailing. In this chat with Damian Meaden, Katy discusses her journey into the industry, and how one opportunity took her back from the brink of quitting to experiences and memories she'd scarcely believe. If you're looking at a career in motorsport media, this one is for you!

This week on Motorsport Mentality, host Damian Meaden heads into the nerve centre of SRO Motorsports Group, the largest organiser of GT racing worldwide, for a very special conversation. Abi Hay started out in motorsport a decade ago, and now works as a Race Director, Series Manager, official and, now, in a key strategic role for SRO in Australia. Race control is an often-unseen part of motorsport - but not on today's episode!

PR and communications is a demanding and fast-paced industry, and perhaps no more so than in motor racing. So, how do you put brands in pole position? Today, we're tapping into the experience and advice of Rebecca Jones, who in her time has represented brands including Aston Martin, BMW, Bentley and, now, the iconic Penske team out in the States. From a quiet country upbringing to the hustle and bustle of all the world's major races, this is Rebecca's story. And it's a good one.

Very rarely is life a straightforward path, and Alice Powell knows that better than most. After the keen bit of finances put a promising single seater career on pause, Alice went to working for her family business as a plumber. But the introduction of W Series in 2019 breathed new life into Alice’s racing career, and she went on to become one of the championship’s household names, including a win on the British Grand Prix weekend. But that opportunity to get back behind the wheel has afforded Alice new opportunities in and out of the cockpit, including her newest role as the television presenter for Channel 4’s Formula 1 coverage, and as a manager and advisor to the next wave of female talents coming through the junior formulae. And today, she’s sharing that journey on Motorsport Mentality alongside host, Damian Meaden.

Aron Taylor-Smith is best-known as a star of the British Touring Car Championship. He’s a race winner, a team leader, an inspiration on-track, and no stranger to new challenges. But there’s one challenge Aron never expected to face. Running parallel with Aron’s touring car career is his marriage to wife, Lauren (she’s the Taylor bit!). Both arrived together, back in 2011, and she’s been there for every milestone in Aron’s career since. They have, very much, grown up in front of the paddock’s eyes as part of the BTCC family. When the time came to start a family of their own, the two began a journey spanning three years and several attempts to finally have their first child, Oaklie. Today, Aron comes on Motorsport Mentality to share their story, as part of a wide-ranging conversation that deals with several important issues, both on-track, and far, far away from it.

How do you build up one of the UK's most prestigious single seater championships, all whilst battling a life-threatening illness? Today on Motorsport Mentality, we have that conversation with Eve Lake-Grange, the British F4 Championship Manager. This is her story.

In this edition of Motorsport Mentality, three-time British Touring Car Champion Matt Neal guests alongside host, Damian Meaden. This candid chat delves into Matt's performance psychology as a competitor, his transition to team management after hanging up his helmet and - you guessed it - his infamous rivalry with Jason Plato. That, plus never-heard-before insights as we go behind the visor with a true icon of British motor racing.

In this first-ever episode of Motorsport Mentality, we welcome broadcaster, journalist and media trainer Louise Goodman to the podcast. Louise joins host Damian Meaden to discuss life in Formula 1, the origins - and evolution - of her career as one of the UK's most recognisable faces on television, and her work with Girls on Track UK to increase female participation within the sport - plus a lot more!