All images are courtesy of Sergio Álvarez.
The Benetton B192 is one of our most favourite Formula 1 cars of all time. Naturally (aspirated), when at the 2025 Festival of Speed at Goodwood, Sergio had to ask its proud owner and driver, Lorina McLaughlin who is a multiple Fastest Ladies Award at Goodwood Festival of Speed winner, a few questions. Here’s what happened.
You can follow Lorina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/f1_diva
Q: What’s your connection with Spain?
A: We did have a really good time at Jarama when I was there in my ex-James Hunt McLaren M23. It was his World Championship winning car. I think I went to the first one at Jarama in that McLaren. But I drove several times with the Benetton, ex-Michael Schumacher car. It was a lovely track, I love that circuit. It’s a pity we can’t go back again.
Q: The bit down the hill in the 3rd sector is quite challening.
A: I loved that bit. It was really good. It reminds me a bit of Laguna Seca, the Corkscrew (corner), exactly that. It’s a similar type of feeling in a way, except the Corkscrew is like going on a fairground ride because it’s like oblivion. You go over and then you come down. Those Spanish tracks are really nice because they are challening, they’re all different, with ups and downs.
Q: What about Silverstone?
A: Those sort of circuits I’m not so happy with. I’m not so fan with Silverstone because it’s too flat.
Q: Could it be that the wind is the challenge at Silverstone?
A: Very much so. It was very windy when we last came there at the British Grand Prix. We had a demonstration (run) there. This car (the B192) moves about. It jumps and it moves, it’s amazing how different it becomes when it’s a windy day. You have to be very careful because this car has a mind of its own.
Q: What does it take to become a historic racing driver?
A: I went from real racing to historic racing and then coming into Formula 1 cars it’s very physical obviously. And these earlier cars they have no driver aids at all. People don’t realize this: there’s no power steering, there’s nothing to help the driver. They’re quite basic with the driving. But this one (the B192), this is the car that had the last ever 6-speed manual gearbox. So again it’s something which is much more difficult to drive than now when everyone has paddles (paddle shift gearbox). You have to change gear with your right hand and steer with your left hand when you’re going into a corner. 6-speed H-pattern gearbox.
Q: What’s the required physical training then? Let’s say for a season of historic racing.
A: Yes, you have to keep fit. Very much so. It’s not just a case of getting in and driving it. Because it’s very physical, because there are no driver aids it’s more physical.
Q: It reminds of our Formula 2 coverage days, which are sadly over because Liberty Media can’t stand independent content creators, when we asked the drivers to compare F2 experience vs F1. They all said the arms are not so stressed any more in a modern Formula 1 car due to power steering and how easy it is to drive. With less driver aids in the Formula 2 car it makes a world of difference.
A: You’ve got to be very strong! And luckily I am. Speaking of which, my favourite track is Monaco. I raced twice in Monaco in the James Hunt’s McLaren. I particularly like street circuits. It’s very close (to the walls), rather than long and fast circuits. It really depends on your engine, isn’t it? I like very tight circuits because you have to be so precise and I’m a very precise driver. A bit like Jenson Button, he’s a very precise driver.
Q: How would you describe your own driving style?
A: I think that is what I like about street circuits. Have you heard about Circuit de Pau-Ville in France? That was my favourite street circuit before I drove at Monaco.
Q: Do the B192 (Benetton) and the M23 (McLaren) have something in common in terms of driving?
A: No! I actually got the M23 to be like an extention of my body because it became a part of me so I had it exactly to suit me. But with the Benetton I kept it exactly as Michael Schumacher had it. The same set-up which obviously doesn’t suit me because he always had the car that no one else could drive, like Max Verstappen nowadays. No one can drive his car either! It’s totally original this car.
Q: Apart from the tires?
A: Exactly that!
Q: How much does it cost to maintain these cars?
A: I don’t keep a note because it’s so expensive! If I knew how much it costs, I wouldn’t do it. I’d have to give up.
Q: Which F1 car would you like to test?
A: I’ve driven lots of other Formula 1 cars. For instance, here at Goodwood they like you to have a different car each time, each year. I can’t bring this back every year. My friends that have got Formula 1 cars, I asked them whether I could borrow their car for the Festival. Luckily, they let me!
Q: So if I had a Formula 1 car, how would it work then?
A: The team will work out the costs, basically. It depends on where the car is and how long it’s (running) for, everything. It would be a different price for wherever the event is. What’s you budget?
Q: What’s your opinion on today’s state of affairs for up and coming female racing drivers? What’s your take on the F1 Academy?
A: I think that it’s one of those situations when it seems a good idea to get women in who would never have driven before to have had the opportunity but women should drive against men, not against other women. This is the problem. So if they progress, they will only progress into going into racing with men, which they’re not used if they’re always racing with women. I’ve always raced against men when I started my career because there were very few women (racing). The other thing is that none of these women who have been through the F1 Academy or the W-Series have ever gone on to do much else.
Q: Would you say it’s more about grassroots racing?
A: I don’t know why none of the teams have taken on a lady driver or the ones that won the Academy. I don’t know why they don’t and it is a pity because it would be good for women in general if one girl made it. Then they would have something to aim for. I’m President of the British Women Racing Drivers’ Club so we always try to help women get into racing and become good at that. There’s plenty of people now promoting women but nothing ever seems to happen once they’ve got so far which awful really. I don’t know how that could be improved. Let’s just hope that it gets better.
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