Maxi Jazz Faithless, maxes out his Porsche
taken from the The Mail on Sunday 7th April 2007
The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup has been hurtling around the Donington
Park race track for the past half-hour. As it zooms into the pits, the
driver lets out a whoop of adrenaline-fuelled delight. ‘That was fantastic,’
laughs Maxi Jazz, as he high-fives members of the Redline racing team.
‘It’s so good to be back.’
Maxi – full name Maxwell Fraser – is best known as the
charismatic frontman of the multimillion-selling dance band Faithless,
as well as being a much-in-demand DJ. But unlike many other music celebrities
who take part in the odd novelty race, he is deadly serious about motorsport.
The man who brought us such dance anthems as God Is A DJ and Insomnia,
and who is a committed Soka Gakkai Buddhist, is now so good that, despite
his 50th birthday looming in June, he is now competing in his second Carrera
Cup GB, a 20-race championship set over ten weekends at tracks all over
the country.
Some might view Maxi’s two great passions – performing as
a musician and driving racing cars – as widely contrasting, but he perceives
significant parallels.
‘Both as a performer and a driver you need many people
behind the scenes,’ he says. ‘The guys head off in front of you to set
up and prepare for the gig or the race, then – whether as artist or driver
– you arrive, full of nerves and adrenaline. You then have to get up and
do your stuff in front of thousands of people. ‘It requires utter dedication
and concentration, and you must forever be thinking one step ahead,’ he
adds. ‘The only difference is that when I’m about to go on stage, I’m
not frightened. I’ve done it many times before. But when I’m about to
race, I’m full of nerves.’
He wastes no time in spelling out his priorities. ‘Faithless
have a major UK, European and American tour coming up, but I made it clear
to my promoter that the dates must not clash with any of the ten racing
weekends in the Carrera Cup. There’s not a day that passes without me
and my best friend Dave Campbell talking cars and racing.’
It was Campbell who passed on the drug of motorsport to
Maxi many years ago, after dragging him down to events at Brands Hatch.
‘At the time I was struggling as a DJ but I made a pact
with myself. I vowed that if I ever made it in the music industry I would
go back to the driving school, get a competition licence and go racing.’
And that is precisely what he did. ‘I never guessed Faithless would become
so big,’ he admits. ‘We were amazed when we sold anything, and we were
even more amazed when people wanted us to tour. We thought we’d get found
out – but I guess that hasn’t happened.’
The band’s success gave Maxi the chance to pursue his passion.
He competed in the Ford Fiesta championships in 1999, and six years later,
after treating himself to a Porsche, entered the 2006 Carrera Cup GB.
The highlight of the season was at Thruxton, when tenth and 11th placings
earned him the Driver Of The Weekend accolade for improvement and consistency.
‘I went up to the podium and realised I was standing in
the same place as just about all the motorsport greats had done before
me.’
Maxi can also lay claim to being part of a motor-racing
record, accompanying Nigel Mansell in a Grand Prix Masters two-seater
as it sped to 194mph on the runway at London’s City Airport, travelling
faster on land than anyone in history in the nation’s capital.
‘I can’t tell you how happy I am about that,’ Maxi enthuses.
‘I’ve met many racing drivers before, but none as great as Nigel. I sat
behind him staring at one of the most famous helmets in the history of
motorsport and just marvelled at his talent.
‘When I’m on stage fronting Faithless, I’m not exactly in
danger, except for the odd beer can landing on my head. But when you’re
racing, one significant error could be very costly. Every time I race
I’m driving through a fear barrier. ‘I like winning but I love racing.
Trying to overtake someone, or keep someone behind you at bay, is much
more fun than just leading,’ he emphasises. ‘I’m not interested in making
up the numbers, or trying to be a musical celebrity on the circuit. I’m
trying to be a racing driver, and I like it when that’s how I’m treated.
The goal this year is to start on the grid at around tenth – which is
halfway down the line-up – and claim final placings of fifth, sixth or
seventh, with maybe a podium or two.’
The ambition does not end there – Maxi has other racing
plans. One is to enter Le Mans; another is to race at Bathurst in Australia,
home of the revered Mount Panorama circuit. ‘That would be the Holy Grail
for me.’
Given a choice, would Maxi rather have become a Formula
One racing driver than a music star?
‘It’s a question I’ve often asked myself,’ he admits. ‘I
would have given almost anything to have been Nigel Mansell, but, no,
I’d rather be a successful musician. As an artist you have the capacity
to influence people through your songs. If you have a message, you can
get it across. That’s an incredible gift. I take it very seriously.’Still,
woe betide anyone foolhardy enough to suggest that Maxi should pack in
motor racing. ‘There would be a massive row, I promise you,’ he says.
‘I remember once telling my sound engineer that I reckoned I’d have to
grow up at some point and stop being a racing driver. He said to me, “You
know what, Maxi? It’s never too late to have a happy childhood.” ‘That’s
exactly what I’m doing right now. I’m having a happy childhood.’
Maxi is sponsored by Relentless. Visit relentlessenergy.com
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