Legendary driver John Watson told Off The Ball that his first experience in a formula one car was during a race in Phoenix Park.

"I made my Formula One debut in Phoniex Park. In 1972, a well known Dublin motor trader - Anthony "Monkey" Brown - bought a Formula One car from another well-known motor dealer at the time - Bernard Charles Ecclestone," said John.

"I turned up at Phoneix Park and the car eventually turned up as well but it was in a bad state. That was the first time I drove a formula one car."

Watson was part of a golden age of Formula one drivers in the 1970s, with the likes of James Hunt, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, and Mario Andretti.

Nowadays, he doesn't think there's the same bond between drivers.

"It was all about your talent in the '70s, but now it's about how much money you have. Back then there was more camaraderie between drivers, it was like a traveling circus."

He was introduced to driving because his dad owned a car business but to him, he always had bigger plans.

"In my case, it was a family affair and my father was in the motor business in Belfast and then raced in the '50s primarily."

"It was very much his intention for me to eventually take over the business but as I say I had a dream. My dream wasn't to be selling cars in Belfast, it was to be on a world stage racing at the highest level."

While winning the British Grand Prix in 1981 was his biggest achievement as a driver, he did have a chance to win the championship in 1982.

"It was an opportunity that was lost and I went into the last Grand Prix in Las Vegas in 82 and I needed to win."

"Keke Rosberg needed to finish fifth or higher if I won the race and I came second. I won two races that year he won one, but it's about points over the season, not just victories."

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