metro extralife MetroWheelsToadvertise call(01)6375979 18 metrolifeextra Wednesday, October 28, 2009 A spin with Mr Button World-beating: Imagine taking to the road with newly crowned world champion Jenson Button just hours after his mind-blowing performance in Brazil. Sometimes, dreams do come true... by james day S ome might think that having won the Formula 1 Drivers Championship, Jenson Button would be Awol on a yacht somewhere with girlfriend Jessica Michibata. Nothing of the sort instead the newly-crowned champion was joyriding around a shopping centre with me by his side, promoting super-fast broadband for a major company. But after I set off with him on a few flying laps of a perimeter road, it was clear he enjoys playtime behind the wheel as much as when he first jumped into a kart on his eighth birthday. Who cares, theyre not my tyres, he exclaims as he pulls away from the paddock before inch-perfectly power-sliding the wrong way around a roundabout. This is ridiculous, whats the speed limit around here, 30mph? Im doing 123mph. Look at the police they dont know what to do. This is insane. Button usually drives a Mercedes C63 AMG. Its a far cry from the Civic Type R of his BAR days, and the baby sister of todays weapon of choice the E63 AMG saloon. Theres no question Im in the presence of an unbelievable driving talent. Anyone who follows F1 will know theres nobody smoother on the track, but witnessing first-hand just how good he is, Im amazed. I had time for one practice run, says Button nervously, but it doesnt show. The hastily-arranged circuit incorporates a multi-storey car park. Its much tighter than Monaco, the spectators are housed behind flimsy fences, and the Merc is twice the size of his winning BGP001 F1 car. Buttons handling of the 6.3litre V8 lump is meticulous, the slightest tweak of the steering wheel producing the perfect reaction. Finally finding my voice from the back seat, I ask him if forfeiting wild parties and a romantic reconciliation with Jessica for corporate commitments was a problem? Its lucky I have a very understanding girlfriend but this is just plain fun isnt it? he says. I hope for his sake she does understand, because Jodie Kidd and Joss Stone have just turned up for a ride too. Maybe its testament to Buttons focus and new settled image they had to wait their turn with everyone else. New Polo. No Compromises. MSL Ballsbridge Volkswagen Shelbourne Road Dublin 4 Telephone: (01) 6656600 Email: ballsbridgevolkswagen@msl.ie We are very excited that the brand new Polo is now available in MSL Ballsbridge Motors. Test drive the new Polo before 27th November and you could win 2 VIP tickets to Top Gear Live on Friday 4th December. This offer is exclusive to MSL Ballsbridge Volkswagen. To book your test drive appointment call us on 01 665 6600 MSL Driving Confidence www.mslvolkswagen.ie Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TDi CO2 Emissions (g/km) - 87. Combined Fuel Consumption (1/100km) - 3.3 *Model depicted is for illustrative purposes only. metro lifeextra 74,000 Urbanites plan to buy a car in the next 2 yearsSource: Urban Life - Wave 12 / TGI ROI 2009 metrowheels To advertise call 01 637 5979 index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html