FRANK DERNIE: A RACING PIONEER
There is no such thing as a short chat with Frank Dernie, best known for his time at Williams as the Formula 1 team grew from tiny acorns into world beaters from the late 1970s onwards.
He introduced data-logging and computers to F1 (despite early resistance), suggested that Williams took its windtunnel work in-house (not resisted) and has worked with a multitude of champions and winners over the years.
He’s not afraid to voice opinion either, but it’s clear that having recently turned 72, he has plenty of stories to tell.
He explained “I’m a very old bloke, so I’ve been around a long time. And I love talking about racing…”
You asked, he answered.
Question: Did you grow up in a racing family? Mike Riordan Via email
Frank Dernie: “No. My dad was slightly interested in motor racing. I was brought up in Lancashire and I do remember we went to Oulton Park for a sportscar race, and as a small boy I was a big fan of Archie Scott Brown. That would be the late ’50s I expect. When dad took up golf, which he did about 1960-ish, we practically never saw him again, he became obsessive about it. So he lost all interest in racing. I did have a very good friend of a similar age, whose dad was quite keen on cars, and we went off together to sprints and hillclimbs and stuff in the ’60s.”
Question: How did you get involved in racing and engineering? Paula-Jane Wallace Via email
FD: “To be honest it was a simple thing. I’m very into ‘how things work’ whether it’s animal or machine and was always fascinated by that. I observed as a child that the cars that won were usually the same ones, and I wondered why it was that one car was better than another. That’s really what triggered my interest. I guess I’m – maybe not unusually for the era – but I’m much more massively interested by the cars rather than the drivers. Although my hero – and I don’t know if you were going to ask me, but you are going to get my answer whether you like it or not – is Jim Clark. He to me is the greatest of all time.”
MN: We were going to ask you! But, through your career you have worked with many of the sport’s greats. We tried to compile a list, but there are a few grey areas we need you to confirm. Let’s start with the definites. You have won World titles with Alan Jones, Keke Rosberg, Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, and Michael Schumacher… Then we have a few that we question marks by that you worked with outside of their championship years. Nico Rosberg?
FD: “Well, sort of. Nico was at Williams while I was there, but I didn’t work directly with him much. Those other ones that you mentioned, I either designed the car they ran, or ran it at the circuit. But with Nico, he was one of the drivers when I was a consultant at Williams.”
MN: Were you with Mario Andretti when he did his one-off race for Williams at Long Beach in 1982?
“Yes. I didn’t run his car at the race, but I did do the test, so I ran him at Willow Springs. He’s such a charming fellow, I mean even today he always greets me like a long,
