Interview: Firman Enjoying Licence to Thrill

Formula One new boy Ralph Firman has swum with the sharks and flown upside down in a stunt plane over Melbourne's Grand Prix circuit since he arrived in Australia.

The fast cars will come this weekend, before the holiday in Bali.

Perhaps it is no surprise that the 27-year-old, at least when wearing black tie dress, bears a passing resemblance to James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan. He has the firm gaze, the unruffled stance and clipped English accent and now Jordan have handed him a licence to thrill as well.

He made clear on Thursday that he was stirred but not shaking at the prospect of joining motor racing's glamour club and making his debut on the same grid as Ferrari's Michael Schumacher in Sunday's season-opening race.

"I think I will probably sleep quite well tonight but you have to be nervous to drive well and, first time in a Formula One car at a Grand Prix, you're going to be no matter what," said Firman.

"It's obviously been an amazing last month, what with signing the deal and then running about having a few days' testing. It's going to be an amazing prospect to be driving a Formula One car," he added.

"It's been a life-changing experience getting the drive. It certainly will be that again over the whole weekend."

Little Known

The reigning Formula Nippon champion has an impressive record from minor series but arrives in Formula One late and little known after years out of the spotlight racing in Japan. Before that he had raced against contemporaries like Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya and Italian Jarno Trulli in Formula Three.

"I've said hello to a few (of the drivers) that I knew before but I don't know if anyone here knows who I am really," he said.

The track marshals certainly did not earlier in the week when Firman ventured out onto the Albert Park street circuit for the first time.

"I jumped over the pitwall and had a few marshals on bicycles chasing after me. They got very excited but they calmed down eventually.

"No-one knows me, do they?," added Firman. "They thought I was just a punter. I said 'I'm with the team' and they all said 'use the other gate' or whatever."

Familiarisation on four wheels was also difficult: "I went around in a hire car but there were buses and trucks everywhere," he said. "They were still putting the kerbs in, so I was sort of guessing where they were going to be."

Firman may be one of four rookies on the grid on Sunday but he made it apparent that he will not be overawed by the reputation of those around him. Schumacher, used to cars moving out of his way as he sweeps imperiously past, can expect no automatic deference should the World Champion end up behind the Jordan driver after Saturday's new one-lap qualifying.

"You're out there to race so why should you give away any position for the end of the race?" said Firman. "I'll be out there racing against everybody, it doesn't matter who is in front or behind you. You have to try your hardest. You're doing a job aren't you?"