Jordan F1 Mag - Motor Mania

You could say I was a Grand Prix virgin until I went to the British GP at Silverstone last year. Even though I grew up surrounded by cars and karts when my dad was a kart champion, I'd never experienced anything quite like Formula One. What really gets me going is the speed and excitement of the racing. I'm not really a fan of any one driver, more a fan of the racing itself.

I used to race as a kid, only karting mind you, but it was still pretty fast. I guess my love of speed comes from when my dad used to take me round all the circuits with him. He used to race in the Scottish Championships, where David Coulthard started. Now coming to Barcelona as a guest of Benson and Hedges Jordan, and actually getting So close to the action is just amazing. I've met Heinz-Harald and Jarno, and they were both so sweet to me. I even sat in Heinz's car - I mean fantasy fulfilled or what?! Sitting behind the wheel like that made me feel all nostalgic about my days growing up in karts, but my dad packed it in and I don't do it anymore because I'm too busy with my TV work.

Nowadays, I just drive my normal car pretty fast. At the moment I've got a Seat Toledo; it's absolutely huge and looks as if it should have a few kids and a couple of dogs in the back! I look as if I should be arrested for joy-riding or something. One day, I'll replace it with a fast car; trouble is, I haven't got a clue which one. I need advice, someone who'll just say 'Gail, get that one,' otherwise I wouldn't be bothered, so long as it was a lot faster than my Seat.

Until then, I guess I'll just have to indulge in my speed fantasies when I'm on holiday. I always end up jet skiing or doing anything that goes fast, like power boating - that's absolutely fantastic. I'm no good at water skiing mind you. When I tried it in the Maldives I couldn't get up! I just got dragged along on my bum. Still, I'll try anything once.

Talking of holidays, I'd love to go touring on a big bike. l've got a moped, but it's not fast enough and I'm going to have to take my bike test to get a real bike. At the moment I have to make do with riding on the back with my boyfriend we go everywhere on it.

I've always been one for the more rough-and-tumble hobbies. When I was younger I studied martial arts for six years. It taught me not to take any nonsense from anyone, which is a good attribute if you're small like me. I've never done a sport that's scared me, hut I haven't jumped out of a plane it just doesn't appeal to me much.

At the moment I'm doing a million and one things. I'm working on the Big Breakfast, and a programme called DotComedy on Channel 4 (which is about the Internet) as well as the movie chart show for Channel 5 and Top of the Pops on the Beeb. I'm also starting a movie in a couple of months' time and l've just finished a short film. Trouble is, l'm so busy it's hard to fit Grand Prix following into my busy schedule. l've really been a die-hard fan since that day in 1999, and F1 has become compelling for me to watch. It's simply another way of getting my adrenalin fix.