Bruno Spengler Column: A costly flat tire

Hi again everyone!

I’m now in Cologne, Germany, to take part in a Pro-Am golf tournament held by Hugo Boss, one of my main sponsors. You know me, I love golf. I try to play as much as I can and, honestly, my game is starting to look quite respectable.

The concept of the tournament is pretty interesting. We’re divided into teams of four, including one professional golfer and three amateurs. I have yet to learn the identity of my pro teammate, but I’m already excited… even though I’ll be a little nervous as I hit my first shot in front of the fans and a seasoned pro.


On Wednesday, I will participate in a similar event on a different course, still in Cologne, but organized by Mercedes-Benz.

Now, let’s talk racing. Of course, I’m extremely disappointed with how the Brands Hatch race (England) turned out. Without a flat tire, a second-place finish would have been entirely realistic.

On Friday morning before the race, I took a plane from Düsseldorf and flew 90 minutes to London, where I met with a good friend of mine, Joe Santos. He’s a writer and photographer for several motorsport magazines.

We drove together all the way to Brands Hatch, about an hour from the capital. I had the privilege of staying at the hotel inside the track, which proved very convenient throughout the weekend (no traffic jams!).

Kent County in southeast England had a sweet feel of autumn. The weather was cool and fairly windy -- a sharp contrast with the recent warm temperatures in Strasbourg, France, where I live during the season.

As usual, Friday was about PR stuff and technical meetings. We did the half-hour rollout in late afternoon without much concern. We also simulated race starts and pit stops.