European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 9, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine Derek Bell also below saluting is tint Victory at the mans in 1975. A co drove the Gulf Ford Mirage with Belgium s Jacky icky. App Wio racing Ace Derek Bell not slowing down9 by Bandy Barnetts Saunio editor truly enjoy my racing in America n tact i enjoy in enough to Fly Back and Forth across the Atlantic 33 times a year and i would t spend that much time in air planes it i did t enjoy racing Over  englishman Derek Bell one 01 the most successful Drivers in the history or spot Oscar racing was discussing his life As a tons Atlantic comm Lei during an interview recently at Germany s Kcjr Burgering he was there to drive a factory porsche ear in the t ,000 Kilometre race a the track. Sell the reigning co world sport scar Champion with Germany s Hans stuck made it Clear which Side o the Ocean tie enjoys racing on. In America he said in is particularly significant thai aft racing Drivers Are Given equal treatment. The indy car Drivers. Formula ofte Drivers sports car it Ives and Stoch car Drivers we re All honoured in America. But in Europa Only formula one grand prix Drivers count. Anyone filse is considered second  Tel infuriates the sex formula one Driver and Lour Lime Winner of la mans who at age 44 is As Strong As Ever leading for the s8b world sports car championship. He s also running second behind pennsylvanian Al Holbert in the american International molar sports association Simsa Camel it championship. In Law Mesa compe ution Bert placed second in 1985 and third in 1984. While he has been no Tower irian tout Tai in the the Las i live years of world championship sports car racing. He has won More International races in the past five years than any other Driver Betl a High on american racing maintaining that it is More colourful better organized and a much bigger show than anything going at the moment in Europe especially where sports ear racing is concerned. In the Stales the crowds Range from 25,000 Al Irie Daylong 24 hours to 100,000 Al tha Miami grand prix so you can see that the americans know How to promote racing. And you re nol stilled by oin,., As you Are Here. For instance. I was Fulcd s150 Here yesterday Lor reversing lha car maybe a loot on the pit Road and then had to wait around while the jury decided my Fate and the amount of line. It was my first Fine in 22 years of professional racing and i resent it. If i d done that on a rack in the states hey would have said hey do you mind not doing that again " Ball we not impressed wifi the new curb urging. The old circuit the Otd-22n\ile track was the Best in the world but this new one is the worst. On the other hand i must say that the new curb urging does have the beat facilities i be seen anywhere. There s even a jury room  not is tha englishman impressed by the new ring s safety features. I understand that the track was designed by computer Bui it s still not As Sale As claimed he said. If it s raining Here and it almost always is and should you Gal onto tha grass Al 150 Miles an hour i s was being on ice. They should use Sand in the run off areas not  during his 22 years on the world s racing circuits. Bell has done it All. He started racing in 1964 with a Lotus seven and Well from there his Rise to the top strictly meteoric. A gradual led Inlo formula 3 facing in 1966, and had already made his name by 1967, winning nine formula. 3 races that year and moving up to formula 2 in 1963. He did so Well during he 1968 season that he wag contracted by Ferrari that year driving in formula 2 and occasionally in formula one for the famous italian team. Bui by the end of the 1969 season Ferrari Lell him High and dry when it withdrew from formula 2 racing. Tuesday septembers 19s6 and the withdrawal came Al a critical time in Bell s career before he was Able to establish himself As a 1ofhine formula one Driver a goal Hal the enormously talented englishman could have fulfilled. So he continued in formula 2 racing with t Brabham and finished second in the european championship in 1970, moving on to sports cars in 1971. A has been driving sports cars for top notch teams Ever since. Surprisingly enough. Sell holds no grudges against Ferrari. In act he says being with the Ferrari learn was my greatest experience and although it wrecked my future career in of Tuia one racing. I Don t regret my time there it s difficult to explain but you re surrounded by this Aura of greatness. The old Man himself founder Enzo Ferrari always looking into everything. Personally directing your career. Off he great red cars. The sense of  was a special relationship at Ferrari. You have la be it real motor racing Freak 1o appreciate it and Don t forge i m still the last Brit to have driven for Ferrari thai s a distinction. What i lacked at Ferrari was experience Belt said. 1 was in own in Loo fast really and if i d had a couple More years of experience when i went to Ferrari Well who knows. Perhaps i d have been one of the truly great ones. Bui As it is i be enjoyed my racing tremendously and during my career i be had some super limes and some super races. I regret nothing during our interview in the Gigantic porsche Van sell said that the current Ara is one of the great ones for sports car racing and i really envy stuck his porsche teammate. He s Only 35 and has 10 years or More to or Rue these cars. But i m not getting any younger and i must consider stopping i suppose. Still pm not Dow info Down any and my times Are a fast As Ever. And i m winning consistently. And to win you have to be the beat Driver that Day race Day. The secret is to drive at your very Best on that specific Day. You can t put it on. You can t have an off Day if you re to  the stars and stripes Page 13