FORMULA One presenter Lee McKenzie has revealed how her first job within the glam world of racing was the pits – when she had a loaded gun pointed in her face.
The Scots telly host was on her solution to make her telly debut masking the Brazilian Grand Prix when she fell foul of gun-toting cops.
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It was a impolite introduction to the world of quick vehicles and multi millionaire drivers the place she has gone on to make her mark during the last 15 years.
Lee – whose ebook Inside F1 is launched this month – says: “It was my first correct day of working in System One in 2008 and we have been attempting to get to the monitor.
“It’s a sophisticated journey with a variety of switchbacks and Jason Swales, who was my Scottish producer, was driving me and Sky presenter David Croft once we ended up going the unsuitable means.
“We instructed Jason ‘simply do a u-turn’, however swiftly it was like a SWAT group descended on us. There have been sirens throughout us then after which a gun within the window.
“Was it reassuring that it was a member of the São Paulo Police pointing the gun? Not likely, as a result of a gun remains to be a gun.
“A u-turn was a reasonably innocuous factor for us to do to get the extent of response we acquired. I saved pondering ‘Think about if we’d finished one thing actually dangerous?’
“So it wasn’t an awesome begin however I’ve definitely by no means finished something like that since.”
Lee was raised by her motorsports reporter dad Bob McKenzie and mum Dale at residence in Ayr, breaking into journalism on the tender age of 15 by penning an equestrian column for her native newspaper.
The 45-year-old says: “My dad was a Fleet Road journalist and I used to be the annoying little one who turned up in any respect the sporting occasions. So I had been to a great deal of F1 races by the point I used to be 12.”
Her huge TV break got here when she was 20-years-old when a colleague at Borders’ TV fell in poor health and she or he ended up studying the information.
Lee quickly discovered her means into sports activities reporting for ITV’s At The Races, whereas she additionally covers rugby and Wimbledon for the BBC – however insists F1 has at all times been her old flame.
DANGER
She says: “It has all the pieces with the mixture of leisure, politics and large hazard.
“Most individuals watch, eager to see a crash, which is comprehensible however you additionally need to see everybody stroll away from it.
“System One is so distinctive too. We journey enmasse, we work collectively, we find yourself in the identical eating places collectively.”
Lee maintains the game has by no means been so in style due to the success of the Netflix collection Drive to Survive.
DEBUT
However she felt compelled to write down her debut ebook due to the press and overlook world of social media and streaming.
She explains: “Once I began social media wasn’t a factor so there was nonetheless a little bit of thriller across the drivers.
“Now you could be an F1 fan as of late as a result of you may watch a present or observe the drivers’ social media channels, however you don’t truly know a lot concerning the sport.
“I wished to provide a little bit of context to issues like why Lewis Hamilton is the best way he’s now and what he has achieved.”
LEWIS HAMILTON
The Scot has change into associates with a number of family title drivers together with seven-times World Champion Lewis, 38, assembly him for the primary time when she gave the teenage wannabe a carry to a race.
However she admits the English race ace has at all times suffered from a picture downside that has meant the general public haven’t fairly taken to him the best way they’ve with different drivers.
She says: “Jenson Button was seen as a man you could possibly have a pint with in a pub, however you couldn’t ever think about Lewis even being in a standard pub.
SENIOR STATESMAN
“Individuals additionally rally in opposition to those that have huge superstar existence, so Lewis has at all times suffered a little bit bit from the tall poppy syndrome.
“People may need him to win however they don’t essentially need to hear from him. However he has come full circle now and is sort of a senior statesman for the game.”
Nevertheless Lee was on extra private phrases with the primary man to win seven World Championships – German celebrity Michael Schumacher.
The presenter was even invited to Michael’s ranch in Switzerland to compete in a Western horse driving contest, earlier than he tragically suffered a mind damage whereas snowboarding in 2013.
PODIUM
She says: “I ended up sharing a podium with Michael as we have been each joint second. Despite the fact that it was only for enjoyable, we took it significantly and have been each irritated to not have gained.
“He at all times knew I may experience horses, albeit not western, however he noticed me as competitors and was virtually irritated that I used to be good. It was very humorous.”
However Lee admits that her directness throughout interviews with drivers has led to some frosty receptions within the pit lanes afterwards – not that she worries an excessive amount of about ruffling a couple of feathers.
She says: “I’m not paid to be somebody’s good friend. I’m paid to be a journalist, so I by no means have an issue asking questions.
MY PAL SIR JACKIE NEEDS MORE RESPECT
LEE has known as for extra respect for “household good friend” Sir Jackie Stewart – after the Scots three-times World Champion was manhandled by a safety guard.
The 83-year-old racing legend was blocked from approaching tennis ace Roger Federer on the Miami Grand Prix final month by an over keen minder.
Nevertheless the Scot refused to be deterred, lastly getting maintain of Federer to do a dwell interview with Sky’s Martin Brundle.
F1 followers have been livid on the therapy of the good Scot – whose actual title is John Younger Stewart – with one Tweeting: “F1 royalty and ought to be allowed anyplace”.
Lee says: “There was solely going to be one winner in that scenario and that was JYS. He would by no means relent.
“He has change into an actual good friend of the household and I’m lucky to have spent a whole lot of time with him, his sons and his grandchildren too. They’re a really shut group.
“JYS has made this sport as secure as potential, though it’ll by no means be utterly secure.
“He misplaced so lots of his associates and his rivals on the monitor and I feel that’s one thing safety guards wants to recollect once they see him – have a little bit respect there.”Nevertheless Sir Jackie made gentle of the scenario afterwards, posting on Instagram: “I have never needed to sneak previous safety shortly. Thanks to @rogerfederer for being a very good sport.”
“Nevertheless if you overstep the mark, in the event you ever do, then you may go and have a non-public phrase with individuals afterwards.
“It’s a wonderful line to tread however on the entire I’d hope I get it proper.”
And the broadcaster maintains her love affair with F1 has endured from that ropey starting, staring down the barrel of a cop’s gun.
She says: “I nonetheless get pleasure from it as a lot as I at all times have. Put it this manner I’d moderately write a ebook on System One than myself as I’m a really non-public individual.
“Individuals can have a look at my social media they usually wouldn’t know if I had one child, no children, 20 children. I simply don’t put any private stuff on the market.
“However System One is de facto such a particular place and I really like being a part of that world, even when I didn’t have one of the best of begins.
“Once I look again now it’s very amusing however on the time having a gun pointed at you was something however.”
*Lee McKenzie’s Inside F1 is out on paperback now from Black and White Publishing.
