One of the pleasures of driving the rally world for me isthe Facebook Live stream from wherever I am.
I have kept a record of what I experienced in all sorts of places.
(This one was streamed live before the start of the Mille Miglia in Italy in 2021, the finest rally in the world.)
Selfie stick always in one hand, I have kept a record of every moment of taking this on.
Here is a photo of me being paparazzi’d abroad — the selfie stick is right there in shot (laughs).
Streaming live while actually competing in motorsport meant timing and circumstances were sometimes genuinely difficult. There was the time difference with Japan too.
Sometimes I have cut into my own mealtime to bring a live stream to everyone back in Japan.
What streaming live means
But by streaming live, an experience does not stay mine alone — I can share it with viewers, in real footage, as it happens.
Something like sharing the dream and the experience together.
Landscapes seen around the world, sent back quickly in real time; trouble and joy and heart-in-mouth moments, felt together.
Almost as though you were driving with me.
The upsides and downsides of Facebook Live
What is good about Facebook Live, above everything, is being able to communicate with viewers for real.
Comments and likes work during the stream, so I can answer questions and reply to comments — which is a pleasure for viewers, and for me on the other end too, living up to it.
The downside is that a post scrolls away with the feed, so it is very hard to go back and watch later — and if I upload it to YouTube afterwards to keep a record, the video ends up small and vertical.
And then there is …my Facebook is set to limited visibility to begin with, so I realised only a limited number of people could ever see it. (A bit late to notice that.)
Aiming for YouTube Live — let’s drive the world together
Wanting to share the experience with more people from here, I set up a YouTube channel. There are rules around being able to stream live — apparently you need 1,000 subscribers before you can go public (ugh).
The challenge I am about to take on, the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge 2023, is a 37-day adventure.
There will be desert, blazing sun, rainy days, and all sorts of trouble along the way.
I want to drive it together with all of you.
Please do subscribe to the channel!
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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe6nXO852iMSEywOQ3xIPOw