Tiff Needell - Racer First, TV Second

I sit down with Tiff Needell — racer first, TV legend second — to talk F1 beginnings, Le Mans nights, and how the airfield days birthed that trademark opposite-lock testing style. We get honest about what makes a car feel alive, the quiet magic of cheap manuals, EV tradeoffs, and Tiff’s forever garage from McLaren F1 to Morris 1000. Tiff's Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1L311xIKsJMmXpyaF1jbbZ Enjoy, Show Notes: 00:00 Tiff Needell: End of an Era for Drivers 02:49 Racing Driver → TV: Car Control on Camera 05:35 Motorsport Then vs Now: Cost, Safety, Show 08:45 Tech in Racing: Data, Aero, Tyres, Workload 11:47 Driver Pathways: Karting Costs & Sim Time 15:04 Women in Motorsport: Pipeline & Opportunity 17:54 Why F1 & Group C Thrilled: Power, Noise, Risk 20:45 GT Racing Explained: BoP, Big Grids, Fan Access 23:49 Media’s Role: Storytelling & Authenticity 26:46 Drifting 101: Technique Meets Spectacle 29:42 McLaren F1 Legacy: Design, Feel, Numbers 51:46 Filmmaking x Car Dynamics: Shooting Real Speed 58:05 Hypercars Compared: Performance vs Usability 01:04:13 Auto Media 2.0: YouTube, Algorithms, Niches 01:08:12 Beyond Racing: Golf, Mindset, Longevity 01:17:53 Future of Driving: EVs, Weight, Feedback, Fun Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices