POLE POSITION | MAX FEWTRELL
During a recent stay at Vila Vita Parc on the Algarve, I got into conversation with a most delightful couple Paul and Louise Fewtrell, who in turn introduced me to their two sons, Max aged 12 and Theo, 9.
It was during the conversation I asked Max what he wanted to do when he grew up, and to my surprise came the answer – become a Formula 1 racing driver. Perhaps a lot of boys of his age would answer in the same way but, as his father pointed out, he became the Asian Open Karting Champion aged 10 and so he is likely to be just that!
The family was in the Algarve, visiting the racing circuit at Portamao where he hopes to test drive one of his karts later this year. It was obvious I needed to know more, after all how many people are lucky to meet a Formula 1 champion in the making.
It is interesting to note Sebastian Vettel got into his first go-cart in 1995 when Max was just 4 years old. I wanted to find out just how do you become a world champion-racing driver. We read of people who achieve fame; but I am lucky to have got to know this first hand from Max himself, his first formal interview, a real delight for me.
He was born in Birmingham in 1999 but his early years were spent in Singapore, where his parents were working. Max does have memories of his first play school in Birmingham, and of his first yellow and purple plastic trike. Louise reminded him that before he could walk, he would spend time sitting on the marble floor of their home, spinning the wheels of his upturned push chair, so from a very early age, he has loved wheels!
One day in Singapore when he was just 9, he went with his mother Louise and some other friends to a go-kart circuit for the day. What followed was to change his young life forever. He went to that circuit day after day during the holidays. It was here his mind was made up – he was going to be a Champion.
I don’ t think I have ever met a boy with such focus – his eyes are fixed on nothing else; how refreshing to see that in someone so young these days. Terminatio et Cupido( Determination and Desire) could easily be his motto for the future.
One of the challenges is how Max balances working at his studies and at his sport. His days are equally divided between studying and training. Prior to July last year, Max was commuting from Singapore to Italy every two weeks for training. Understanding that regime could not last, Louise and Paul decided to move back to the UK and settled in Berkshire to have a closer flight time to Italy and no jet lag.
The alarm wakes him at 7.00 am and he is collected and taken to the gym by his trainer, Gary Catt. His gym routine was exhausting to listen to – centering on circuit training, hand / eye coordination and general fitness. Max has to tune into this vigorous and strict discipline, but you can tell he revels in it.
Once home he awaits the arrival of his tutor Zayn at 11.00am, six days a week. His home studies last until 3.00pm and it is during these‘ one to one’ tuition sessions Max studies English, Maths, Physics and Biology. He particularly loves the science experiments Zayn sets him.
The routine is interrupted every two weeks when Max travels to Italy with his mentor Gary to train on the track. He has all day sessions on the track covering all aspects of driving, testing the engines and with a camera fixed to the car so he is able to replay his day’ s drives. Testing the karts is very exhausting, however Max enjoys every aspect of training.
Three days of intense racing in heats culminate in a final. Gary told me“ Max has a mind set to win. He has a lot of potential and has a great deal of grit and determination. While we are in Italy, he is learning a lot of other social skills and is without doubt, enjoying being a boy in a man’ s world”.
None of his success seems to have gone to his head and he is able to show his emotions. Gary, who is his trainer, coach and mentor, told me it is a role he really enjoys and it is made so much easier by Max having such supportive parents, who in no way interfere with his teaching. Gary is left to discipline and train him; his parents are by his side to support him.
| www. portugal-life. net | Summer 2012 | 19