Questions and answers with Stefan - part 3

To finish with, here are Stefan's answers to the questions you sent in.

Q: What food do you like to eat before a race?

Stefan: Yoghurts. Lots of water. And cereal bars.

Q: Do you have to watch what you eat?

Stefan: Yes, I need to eat quite a lot in the day to give me energy, but I don't want to eat too much in one go. I need to eat small amounts frequently, so you'll always see me munching away in the day.

Q: Do you have an exercise regime and, if so, who controls it and what sort of training do you do?

Stefan: I have a personal trainer and I'm also going to do some training with BRDC Superstars. It's mostly circuit training really. Basically more upper body strength exercises, because that's crucial, to try and build your neck muscles, your biceps and your shoulder muscles.

Q: Outside of racing, what do you most like to do?

Stefan: Motorsport is like the centre of my life, but I enjoy most things - just seeing friends, playing squash, playing different sports, cinema.

Q: What road car do you drive and have you got any speeding tickets yet?

Stefan: A Vauxhall Corsa 1.4. No, I haven't got any speeding tickets.

Q: Are you into computer games and, if so, which are your favourite ones?

Stefan: Yes, I do enjoy a bit of computer games. I normally play against my brother, we're very competitive on that. We do play the Grand Prix Legends game, that's a good game to drive, and also Toca Race Driver. We normally have a blast on that.

Q: How does it feel to have fans cheering you on at races?

Stefan: I hope they're cheering me on, but you don't get to notice that really.

Q: What's your favourite track of the ones you've driven on so far?

Stefan: Brands Hatch GP, and Snetterton. I really like Snetterton, you know, especially after winning the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award there. I've done quite a lot of running there and I know that circuit and I know what I need to do to be quick there, so I enjoy racing there. And Brands Hatch GP is just an awesome circuit and it's great if you've got a car that works well there.

Q: Who are your heroes, both sporting and non-sporting?

Stefan: Steve McQueen's quite a legend, I think he's good. Of course Ayrton Senna, and I'd say Lewis Hamilton, because he's done such a great job to show what you can achieve if you really put the work in. He's had the help from McLaren, but he's shown he's the class of the field this year.

Q: And of course you met him at the Award ceremony...

Stefan: Yes, and he's really down to earth and a nice guy, so that's another good thing about him.

Q: What would you have done if you hadn't been a racing driver?

Stefan: I don't know! I've no idea!

Q: What's your proudest moment so far?

Stefan: Winning the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award was definitely my proudest moment. It was just a great achievement and one I felt I deserved really, given my performance. And I was just pleased how I drove and was glad that I'd done it.

Q: It was quite a big surprise when they read your name out at the ceremony, though, wasn't it? Watching you on TV, you looked quite shocked!

Stefan: Yes, it was a big surprise. I knew I was in with a chance, but I didn't want to count my chickens too early, but when it was announced I was overjoyed. I don't think anybody would win that and not be shocked!

Q: Do you have a game plan of where you'd like to be in, say, five years' time?

Stefan: Sort of, yes. You know, the key thing is securing sponsorship because from here on out the road to Formula 1 is very expensive, so we've got to really try and find sponsorship. Otherwise it won't be possible to do that and I might have to resort to going to America to try and establish my name, but I'd prefer to stay in Europe. I'd prefer to do British Formula 3 again next year, but International Class, and then build from there, but the main thing is securing sponsors.

Q: Just one more question - and we want the definitive answer: which of you is taller, you or Justin?

Stefan: Justin's definitely taller!

Q: How tall are you then?

Stefan: 6 foot 2¾. [Justin is 6ft 3½in.]

Q: Are you still growing?

Stefan: No, I've stopped. I hope!

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