Scheckter applies F1 approach to farming

LONDON, May 17 (Reuters) The late Enzo Ferrari would have surely approved of former driver Jody Scheckter's latest project -- to make buffalo Mozzarella cheese as good as Italy's finest.

South African Scheckter, Formula One world champion for Ferrari in 1979, made his name with the Italian team but his focus these days is organic farming rather than fast cars and chequered flags.

His approach, however, remains typical of the grand prix racer within.

There is the same drive, the same obsessive attention to detail and delight in technology. And he still wants to be the best.

''I suppose I attack everything like a Formula One team,'' the 57-year-old Scheckter told Reuters. ''Move fast, try and develop it fast, try and do it absolutely to the best and get that last percentage out of it.

''And I hate it otherwise if it's not right.'' Scheckter, Ferrari's last champion until Michael Schumacher came along and rattled off five titles in a row between 2000 and 2004, was back in the grand prix paddock in Spain last weekend as part of a deal to supply his organic produce to the Honda team.

Honda, with an 'Earth car' painted with a picture of the planet rather than sponsors' brand names to highlight awareness of global warming, are keen to adopt a more environmentally-friendly image in a sport with something of a problem in that area.

Scheckter will at least ensure that the team can feed their guests with a clear conscience.

SELF-SUSTAINING The South African, whose son Tomas will be racing in the Indianapolis 500 next week, is still very much tuned in to the motorsport world but his main focus is more down to earth.

From making his name racing gas-guzzling cars, and winning 10 races including twice in Monaco, his ambition now is to turn his farm in England into one that is self-sustaining on energy and free of fossil fuels.

Since he retired from Formula One in 1980, the South African has built up and sold a firearms training business in the United States and -- with many millions in the bank -- has for the last 10 years concentrated on farming.

He is proud of his uncrossed Aberdeen Angus cattle -- ''the rarest cows in England'' -- water buffalo, traditional breeds of pig and sheep.

''I started just to produce the best tasting and healthiest food for myself and my family. And after five years I realised that if I killed a cow I had to eat beef for six or eight weeks,'' he said.

''Then the farm next door came up and I bought that and it became serious.'' Laverstoke Park in Hampshire, southern England, now encompasses 2,500 acres and has become a supplier to some of the best restaurants in the country. But it has not been easy.

''It's been really tough trying to get the infrastructure in, the right animals and right people, the right procedures,'' said Scheckter.

''We now have a lab which does the biology in the soil, I have a doctor in microbiology, so we are looking at the science and working with nature.

''We have an abattoir, I have another factory to do sausages and that, but it's the first time where it's really starting to work now.'' MASSIVE INVESTMENT Scheckter does not come from a farming background. Born in East London, South Africa, his first job was as an engineering apprentice in his father's Renault dealership.

''I only remember my dad sending me for a holiday on a farm and I shot the windows out with a pellet gun,'' said the former champion.

''But I was always a foodie and a health fanatic and so I think the two things came together...my wife gave me a book on organics when I was in America and I read it and it became a passion because it made so much sense.

''It became a disease. I've got 500 books, a lot of them from the beginning of the last century because that's when natural farming was at its best.'' Honda and the other Formula One teams have their wind tunnels, working at full capacity to gain fractions of a second in aerodynamic efficiency. Scheckter has his abattoir.

''It's a massive investment, so we've got to get that working fully,'' he said. ''We're only doing one day a week now and we're going to go on to two.

''This Honda thing is a really good relationship, not only because they are taking our food, buying our food, but all the other things as well because we are doing a lot of conservation stuff now,'' he said.

''We are trying to be self-sustaining on energy, the first estate in England to be so, and fossil-fuel-free. We are doing a lot of work on rapeseed oil and anaerobic digestors and things like that.'' REUTERS SAM PM1020