Chris McCarthy’s #SettingPurpleSectors event takes place on the 12th of November in Milton Keynes, all in aid of Young Epilepsy, and yesterday I was able to quiz the Lead Commentator for Formula 3 all about it.
I guess the place to start is maybe explaining a wee bit about your reasons for doing this event?
“Yeah, for me, I guess I’d explain a bit about my personal journey with epilepsy. I was racing, but when was diagnosed, I had my racing license banned for five years and also ended up with my drivers’ license taken away because of my epilepsy and I kind of thought that was it for me in terms of motorsport.
That obviously wasn’t the case, but through a college course and going out and filming for myself I got a path back to where I am now.
📸 Chris has made a real name for himself in recent years, covering Le Mans, Formula 2, Formula 1 and FRECA among his other exploits.
I didn’t tell people back then and ended up having a pretty major seizure at an event and ended up scaring a lot of people.
A lot assumptions gets made, especially working in motorsport surrounding the fact I don’t drive but once it’s explained the people are great. I always get people asking me if I’m good on the weekends and making sure I have lifts sorted to get to hotels and events.”
What does it mean to you to do this event?
“A lot, it’s huge. All the people we have on board, it’s really nice. When I pitched the idea to the charity(Young Epilepsy), the whiteboard filled up quickly with people and ideas for this, it was crazy. We have three young people with us on the night who are getting an opportunity to go shoulder to shoulder with the names we have when they might otherwise not. It’s really great”.
I just wanted to talk a little about the people you’ve got on board, starting with Tom Gaymor - who for different reasons had to give up racing professionally like you did - what does it mean to have someone like him?
“I wanted to have people who all brought something different to the table. Tom certainly does that, he does a lot of work with the police and raises awareness for a lot of special things.
📸 Tom Gaymor(left) is Sky’s face of the IndyCar series coverage.
Plenty of these guys have their own things, Jimmy Broadbent has a mental health event the week before, Harry Benjamin does his own charity race for his own reasons and there’s Christian Mansell who has diabetes too.”
You’ve got Isack Hadjar, who’s a relative superstar right now and is being touted for a potential F1 seat next year - that’s a big name!
“I really wanted someone of that status. He was an absolute top target and when it came through that we got him I was delighted.
📸 French F2 driver Hadjar has been linked with a step up to F1 in the near future and will be racing at the event.
I desperately wanted someone who’d come through FRECA and he was the rookie champion when I was starting out there. It’s been a while since I’ve seen him and it’ll be a great reunion. How great would it be for everyone to say in a few months that they raced with or against an F1 driver?”
There’s a handful of guys you’ve commentated on this year - Joseph Loake, Christian Mansell and Zak O’Sullivan, tell us a little about them.
“We want lots of guys like these - Mansell has had a great season, Zak, I’ve known since he was about 10 years old when I met him in France racing karts and Joseph has really made something from nothing - he’s in F3 after really struggling for funds.
📸 Zak O’Sullivan will be racing, someone Chris has known for most of his career.
Cameron Das is another, he won Euroformula - which at the time was commentated on by Harry Benjamin - so that’s another little reunion. He’s done a lot to get young people into racing.”
Can you tell us a little about the prizes on offer or is that being kept under wraps?
“We have loads to give away! I can’t say what we have but there’s some really great stuff, thanks to our sponsors and the guys taking parts - one prize in particular is really great and worth some good money! There’s stuff to be raffled off too and we’re still getting things.”
Finally, it looks like the event is heading the direction of being a success - is the event something you’re looking to do again each year/every second year?
“Yeah, definitely - we’re already looking ahead and have ideas to go again next year. There’s a lot of learning on the job, we’re working with Simply Race for the first time and it’s looking to be really good. Super happy with all of the work that’s going on.”
Thanks to Chris for taking the time to chat, and best of luck to everyone involved - including our very own Tilly Measures and Emmy Gibbons who will be in attendance!
follow the link here to donate to the cause:
Or direct here at Young Epilespy:
📸 Image credits: Chris McCarthy, Tom Gaymor, Formula Motorsport Limited
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