Athlete, philanthropist and Inspire Foundation CEO Nathan Farrugia shows Ramona Depares how to put zen back on our roads in between getting ready for the Kinder Sport European Challenge in aid of Inspire and the Daniel Delicata Memorial Foundation.
What car do you drive?
A Toyota Prius Hybrid.
What do you usually look for in a car?
Low emissions, comfortable for a family and, if possible, something unusual about its looks.
What was your first car?
A Ford Fiesta hand-me-down.
Were you scared when you first started driving or were you a natural?
Erm, let’s just say I drove to my driving test. I should add that I had the ‘L’ plates on, of course.
What was your worst/best car?
The first was the best because it gave me my independence at 18 years of age. The worst was a Citroen BX (my dad’s) because it broke down every five minutes... but I was still very grateful to have it!
What is your dream car?
One that doesn’t use fossil fuels, but if it could also be a Porsche then that would be the icing on the cake!
Actually I’ve loved Porsche since I was a young boy. Particularly the early 911s.
Do you consider yourself to be a good driver?
Yes. Good as in careful and good as in knowing how to drive properly.
What do you keep in your glove box?
Nothing much... but my boot is always full of stuff! Training kit, office files, and other junk.
Do you suffer from road rage at all? And what drives you mad behind the wheel?
No, I don’t anymore. I used to feel frustrated at the traffic but now realise anger only affects me, not the traffic speed.
What drives me mad are selfish drivers, which unfortunately goes for the majority of us out on the roads today.
What’s the best music to drive to?
Whatever band happens to be on my iPod playlist. Currently The Script.
Have you ever had a crash? Whose fault was it and how did you deal with it?
Plenty in my early days (see road rage post). Now I just let people through.
Thankfully I never hurt anyone although I did hurt myself once when a tree suddenly crossed the road.
Do you know how to change a flat tyre? Do you actually do it yourself?
Yes, of course!
Who would be your perfect passenger?
Well, I find driving a good time to ‘zen out’, and therefore would rather be alone. Having said that, I enjoy driving my kids to school (rarely) and having a sing-along.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done in a car?
Oh, lots of crazy stuff. Like driving ‘doughnuts’ on the gravel pitch in Pembroke, driving off-road with the Fiesta and getting stuck in mud, fitting 12 people in it when I was the only one at Sixth Form with a car.
Who cleans your car and how often?
I clean it every time a journalist asks me to pose for photos for a motoring feature...
Have you ever screwed up badly while driving? Any funny stories to tell?
Well, once, many years ago, I drove my dad’s Citroen BX that had adjustable suspension that you could use to raise it off the ground like a monster truck. I drove all the way down an off-road track to a beach (probably to impress a girl one evening). When it was time to go I realised we where stuck in the sand and had to call my dad, in the middle of the night, to come and rescue us.
What do you think of Maltese drivers in general?
Put any Maltese driver on a track and they’d probably win a few races. Unfortunately, they’d probably also drive a few others off the track and would never be invited back. We are terribly selfish drivers on the whole, with no courtesy or altruism in letting others through or respecting another’s space.