Driving force stuck for ride

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

Former motor-racing star Patrick Tambay has been left without a ride in Auckland.

The Frenchman, who won two grand prix in his 10 years on the Formula One circuit, came to New Zealand to sail with the Swiss America's Cup campaign that he helped to set up.

But when he arrived, the yellow Be Happy boat was on dry land and the challenge had called it a day.

Tambay, known as Prince Charming during his driving days with Ferrari and McLaren, was to have been 17th crew-member on the boat in the race against Le Defi France last Sunday - the day the Swiss withdrew from the regatta because they did not have a mast.

"That's the way it goes, I guess," the 49-year-old said.

"But this is still my holiday - I love it here. Every day is a grand prix, and the atmosphere is just like Monte Carlo."

Tambay, who has lived in Switzerland for the past 17 years, is an old friend of the Be Happy skipper, Frenchman Marc Pajot.

"I was the first guy Marc called when he arrived in Switzerland four years ago," Tambay said.

"He was trying to convince everyone about an America's Cup campaign, but it was like preaching in the desert.

"So I opened my phone book, called my friends and we set up the foundation club."

Tambay describes himself as a yachtie groupie who grew up sailing in the south of France.

He has crewed on an America's Cup boat before, but was not as able behind the wheel of a boat as he was behind the wheel of a racing car.

"I sailed with the Italian boat Azzura in Newport in 1983, but I almost put the boat on the shore when I was at the wheel - we were talking so much about Formula One stuff."

Tambay is confident the Swiss will be back for their second America's Cup challenge next time, despite their money woes this campaign.

"I'm sorry that we haven't been able to give our boys enough money and all the tools to show their stuff," he said.

"Strangely enough, people stop me in the street here and cab drivers tell me how sorry they are about our Swiss campaign.

"It's nice to see that our presence was so well received."