Car Chat

I sit down with Tiff Needell — racer first, TV legend second — to talk F1 beginnings, Le Mans nights, and how the airfield days birthed that trademark opposite-lock testing style. We get honest about what makes a car feel alive, the quiet magic of cheap manuals, EV tradeoffs, and Tiff’s forever garage from McLaren F1 to Morris 1000. Tiff's Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1L311xIKsJMmXpyaF1jbbZ Enjoy, Show Notes: 00:00 Tiff Needell: End of an Era for Drivers 02:49 Racing Driver → TV: Car Control on Camera 05:35 Motorsport Then vs Now: Cost, Safety, Show 08:45 Tech in Racing: Data, Aero, Tyres, Workload 11:47 Driver Pathways: Karting Costs & Sim Time 15:04 Women in Motorsport: Pipeline & Opportunity 17:54 Why F1 & Group C Thrilled: Power, Noise, Risk 20:45 GT Racing Explained: BoP, Big Grids, Fan Access 23:49 Media’s Role: Storytelling & Authenticity 26:46 Drifting 101: Technique Meets Spectacle 29:42 McLaren F1 Legacy: Design, Feel, Numbers 51:46 Filmmaking x Car Dynamics: Shooting Real Speed 58:05 Hypercars Compared: Performance vs Usability 01:04:13 Auto Media 2.0: YouTube, Algorithms, Niches 01:08:12 Beyond Racing: Golf, Mindset, Longevity 01:17:53 Future of Driving: EVs, Weight, Feedback, Fun Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Al Clark is the founder of Outrun Films and one of the leading automotive directors working in the industry today. From Bugatti and McLaren to Aston Martin, Al’s career spans viral films, major commercials, and the evolution of CGI car production. We discuss his journey from grassroots filming to global campaigns, what goes into making hypercars look their best on screen, and how the industry is adapting to new platforms. Enjoy, https://www.outrun.tv/ [https://www.outrun.tv/] 00:00 – Intro & Al Clark’s path into car filmmaking 03:00 – How car marketing has evolved over the years 06:00 – Social media reshaping how we see cars 09:00 – From photography to video: the big industry shift 12:00 – Viral clips vs lasting storytelling 15:00 – Shooting for Instagram vs cinematic framing 18:00 – Moving from camera operator to director 21:00 – Why story matters in car films 24:00 – Breaking into the automotive film world 27:00 – Working with OEMs & the realities of brand projects 30:00 – Small crews vs 100-person productions 33:00 – Balancing creativity with logistics on set 36:00 – Where car filmmaking is heading next 39:00 – Why passion for cars shows on screen 42:00 – Shooting Bollywood action with supercars 45:00 – Keeping energy high on long shoots 48:00 – Why car enthusiasts make the best crew 54:00 – Second unit directors & filming car action 58:00 – The stunt drivers who make impossible shots possible 01:00 – Standout driving feats on set 01:02 – Behind the Bugatti Chiron 0–400–0 film 01:10 – First steps into CGI car filmmaking 01:22 – Unlocking creativity with full CGI 01:36 – Real cars vs CGI: where the future lies 01:42 – Why real stories and documentary-style films endure Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Miro Zrnčević is the Chief Test and Development Driver at Bugatti Rimac. We talk about his journey from Croatian car journalist to driving the most powerful hypercars in the world, what makes a great test driver, and how you balance engineering, feel, and feedback at 400 km/h. Enjoy. https://www.rimac-automobili.com/ [https://www.rimac-automobili.com/] https://www.bugatti.com/ [https://www.bugatti.com/] Show Notes: 00:00 The New Era of Hypercars 09:44 From Journalist to Test Driver 16:44 What Makes a Great Test Driver? 24:14 How to Talk to Engineers 30:08 Switching to EVs 40:00 Driving at the Limit 52:54 The Future with Bugatti and Rimac Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Rod Chong is a creative director and automotive cultural icon whose career spans music videos, video games, and real-world car culture. In this episode, Sam explores Rod’s journey from directing rock music videos to co-founding Speedhunters, leading creative direction on Need for Speed and Project CARS, and building cutting-edge car experiences at Race Service with brands like Ferrari and Porsche. It’s a deep dive into racing games, car culture storytelling, and the art of blending virtual and real motorsport. Enjoy Show Notes: 00:00 – Why Loving the Creative Process Matters 02:12 – From Drawing Cars to Directing Culture 06:04 – Making Need for Speed and Project CARS 19:08 – Inside Roborace: Autonomous Racing at Speed 24:46 – The Hard Truth About Game Development 32:11 – Track Days, Sim Rigs, and Getting Serious 39:07 – How Speedhunters Changed Car Media 44:11 – Race Service, F1 Clients, and Global Collabs 49:25 – From Street Car to Hot Wheels Diecast 51:48 – Building a Street-Legal Porsche 935 56:42 – Running Canyons with a Built Cayman 01:01:38 – Best Drives, Future Builds, and Dream Garage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

George Williams returns to talk about launching Get Lost Automotive and their first build, Project Safari — a lifted, reimagined Lotus Elise S1. We cover everything from road trip stories to suspension geometry, design philosophy, and how he’s applying his photographic eye to building cars. Enjoy. https://www.getlostautomotive.com/ [https://www.getlostautomotive.com/] https://www.gfwilliams.net/ [https://www.gfwilliams.net/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]