| As many of us grow up wanting to be champions | | | | a busy first couple of years starting out and |
| throughout life, we can only wonder what it may | | | | when I was asked to be apart of the Formula |
| take to get there. Being raised as an avid race | | | | BMW International program I was so stoked. I |
| fan growing up, I found myself thinking what it | | | | just have to say that it takes a lot of desire and |
| must be like to be a championship race car driver. | | | | hard work to reach the high goals that I have. |
| What kind of life style does this require? How | | | | Tom Dorris: Not to go off on the beaten path |
| emotional and physical is the sport to the human | | | | here Brook, but I understand you are currently |
| body? Most importantly, how do you become a | | | | enrolled in College up in Northern California and |
| champion? Thanks to a wonderful opportunity | | | | manage your racing career at the same time? |
| given to me by Team Sauber Red Bull Racing of | | | | How does that play out for you? |
| the Formula BMW International series, I was able | | | | Brook Johnston: Oh man... its pretty tough! (he |
| to interview young American racing prodigy Brook | | | | sighs) Yeah I have been attending UC Santa Cruz |
| Johnston from Laguna Beach, California. Johnston | | | | and just been loving it. I've always wanted to get |
| has continued his career in the sport by battling | | | | my college degree and have had so many other |
| through much success including two International | | | | interests in life. I love racing and have been |
| Karting Federation Championships, a World Karting | | | | continuing on with my career, but I would like to |
| Association Championship, a strong second place | | | | think that I might be able to mellow down into |
| season finish with Team Ferrari of North America | | | | another interest that involves me getting my |
| in the GT class, and a current championship lead in | | | | degree. Right now that interest is in architecture, |
| the Formula BMW International series. Running on | | | | but who knows it could change. I just like to stay |
| much more than just pure adrenaline, I | | | | busy and keep my goals high. |
| interviewed the twenty year old racing driver on | | | | Tom Dorris: So while you balance your high |
| his continued success in auto racing. | | | | intensity career and schooling, do you find |
| Tom Dorris: So Brook, I would firstly like to ask | | | | yourself having any free time or fun with any |
| you about your experience growing up in | | | | other interests? I take it you are currently |
| Southern California. Can you tell me a little bit | | | | residing in Santa Cruz then? |
| about what growing up in Southern California was | | | | Brook Johnston: Yeah I am actually living in a small |
| like for you and tell me a little bit about your | | | | beach town called Capitola. I love it there its |
| motivation in sports as a kid? | | | | pretty cool. Um... well I don't really have too much |
| Brook Johnston: Um well I would definitely have to | | | | free time on my hands but I will say that I have |
| say that growing up in Southern California was | | | | some great friends who support me, an amazing |
| awesome. I was very lucky to grow up where I | | | | girlfriend and my family. But when I do have |
| did and I wouldn't have it any other way. I was | | | | some time I just like to hang out with everyone |
| pretty into the beach, sports and cars growing up | | | | and relax at the beach. |
| and have continued to pretty much like all those | | | | Tom Dorris: I find that amazing that you can |
| things ever since. | | | | balance all aspects of your life to fit in perfectly. |
| Tom Dorris: Tell me a little bit about your | | | | So would you say that these balances and goals |
| involvement in those sports and why you picked | | | | since going to college in Santa Cruz have helped |
| and enjoyed the activities you participated in? | | | | your current career in the Formula BMW |
| Brook Johnston: Well lets see... I was really into | | | | International series? |
| the normal beach stuff like skating and surfing. | | | | Brook Johnston: Well I like to think they do. I think |
| But I also started playing soccer and baseball | | | | I just have a lot of pressure and stress taken off |
| when I was really little. I started racing karts | | | | of me by living in Santa Cruz. It is a major pain |
| when I was like 12 and got hooked on it ever | | | | though when I have to fly out for a weekend to |
| since. I also ran cross country and track in high | | | | attend a practice or race, and then come back to |
| school, while I continued to race karts and branch | | | | turn in a homework assignment or something. But |
| out in racing. | | | | I kind of put myself into that position and I plan |
| Tom Dorris: What was your spark and | | | | on graduating next year. |
| enthusiasm like when you first started racing? Did | | | | Tom Dorris: Great! Well what can you say thus |
| you know right from the start that you would | | | | far about the Formula BMW International series |
| end up being a professional and engage more | | | | and the team at Sauber Red Bull Racing? Tell me |
| deeply into the sport? | | | | a little bit about your accomplishments so far this |
| Brook Johnston: Actually I wasn't even sure at all. | | | | season with Sauber Red Bull Racing. |
| (he laughs). I just thought it was fun and addicting. | | | | Brook Johnston: I have to say Im pretty darn |
| I just loved to go fast and was always so | | | | stoked to be here and be in the position that Im |
| competitive in everything that I wanted to win | | | | in. Although this series is in it's first year and hasn't |
| more than anybody else did. I didn't really start | | | | had much public attention quite yet, It's been an |
| taking it seriously until I got my first few | | | | awesome experience and just the whole program |
| sponsors and won my first IKF championship. | | | | has been great. Traveling to world famous F1 |
| Tom Dorris: Brook, so tell me, how did you | | | | tracks and racing on them has been so neat to |
| achieve your first two karting championships and | | | | do. When Mark and Red Bull first came to me and |
| what in your mind made you a winner when you | | | | asked me to drive for their team I was so |
| started in the sport? | | | | stoked. Sauber Red Bull has been so great to me |
| Brook Johnston: Well my first two karting | | | | this season and I really have to thank them for |
| championships were no breeze and there was so | | | | such a perfect opportunity. Im currently in first |
| much tough competition at the time. I remember | | | | place in the championship thanks to a great team |
| being in Stars of Tomorrow races in Las Vegas | | | | and sponsors, and have won two races so far. |
| karting against guys like Marco Andretti and Alex | | | | My goal is to bring home a championship for |
| Barron. But I think that my success and wins | | | | Sauber Red Bull and to help promote American |
| have to be attributed to my extremely strong | | | | open wheel racing internationally. |
| headed and fearless personality. (he laughs). I | | | | Tom Dorris: I have heard that you've endured |
| would take corners faster than everybody else | | | | much tension regarding your American |
| just because I wasn't really afraid of anything. | | | | background throughout the series. Is this true? |
| You can't be afraid in this sport and you really | | | | Also there is speculation that you might be testing |
| have to want to win if you want to make it to | | | | for a Formula One team next season. Is that a |
| the top. | | | | possibility for you? |
| Tom Dorris: So describe to me how exactly you | | | | Brook Johnston: Yes the series is very |
| made it to the top and the path you took to get | | | | competitive regarding each driver's home country. |
| here? | | | | Our team is entirely American based and a lot of |
| Brook Johnston: Basically lots of practice and | | | | the fans and public seem to criticize the American |
| coming to the tracks everyday. After karting I | | | | F1 movement. Its not the greatest thing you |
| got involved in teaching a driving school for | | | | want to hear as a driver, but we do have a very |
| celebrities for a little while. Then I was asked to | | | | large fan base and much support compared to |
| compete for a half season in a Barber Dodge Pro | | | | most teams in the series. It actually kind of fuels |
| car and then went to the American Le Mans | | | | me to work harder and show everyone that an |
| Style class with Ferrari of North America. It was | | | | American can do it. |