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Since joining the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team as our Reserve and Development Driver, Taylor Barnard has done a huge amount of work behind the scenes, but it was his unexpected Formula E debut in Monaco that brought him to the attention of the wider motorsport community.

Taylor’s stint as Sam Bird’s stand-in at Monaco and Berlin left no doubts about his abilities on track, but with the Norfolk-born Briton having climbed the junior ladder at rapid speed, fans still know little about his life away from the racetrack.

Ahead of his first Official Formula E test with the team as a full-time driver, we spoke with Taylor to get to know him a little better, discussing his most treasured possessions, his closest friends in racing and his dream birthday cake.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Norwich, near the airport, so there wasn’t much around us. I went to school there, but I spent most of my time in Europe racing from the age of 10, so I just lived there and went to school there, with the rest of my time spent racing.

What is your most treasured possession?

There's a lot from racing, such as old helmets and trophies I’ve won. There are some trophies that don’t look the greatest but have really strong meanings.

When I was in karting, for example, there was a race at Rissington where I started last, right at the back, but won the race. It was raining and I was on slick tyres, it was a special race. The trophy is pretty small compared to some of the ones I won in Europe, but it is special to me.

The biggest one that I have is from a European Championship round at Sarno in Italy. It’s as tall as my sister. I would also include the trophy I won in Monaco this year in Formula 2. That's a really nice trophy and will stay for me forever.

What is your dream birthday cake?

Chocolate cake with a car on top. For my last birthday, my sister made me a cake with a Formula 2 cake on the top, which was really nice.

What is your favourite hobby away from the track?

That’s easy: sim racing. I have a simulator at home and spend 90% of my time on there.

Would you ever stream your sessions?

I don't currently, but now that I am only competing in one racing series, I think I'll have a little bit more time this year compared to my schedule last year, so if the fans want it, perhaps that's something that I'll start.

Who are your best friends in racing?

There's quite a big group of us who have raced together through Formula 4, Formula 3 and Formula 2, including Martinius Stenshorne and Alex Dunne, who are both McLaren drivers in our Driver Development programme as well, which is quite funny. We have all raced together since a very young age, so I would say they're some of my closest friends.

Do you have a favourite cheat meal?

Do enchiladas count as a cheat meal? Enchiladas are my favourite.

If you weren’t a racing driver, what would your job be?

I've spent my life in motor sport since the age of seven, so I can't imagine myself anywhere other than here. So, it would have to be an engineer or a driver coach. Something related to racing because it's been my life forever.

What is the best thing about being a racing driver?

There aren’t any negatives. Every part of this is a positive, and I absolutely love doing it.

Are there any drivers who you've looked up to throughout your career?

Ayrton Senna is my biggest idol. Growing up, I would also add Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, as I remember watching Jenson win the 2009 Formula 1 World Championship, and seeing Lewis winning from 2014. I would say that they were my biggest idols.

What is your career highlight to date?

That’s difficult. There are quite a lot of races, which are perhaps not so important in terms of a championship, but are strong memories for me. One of my best races was a Formula Regional Race, where I started last and finished third. It was the first round of the season and I had been disqualified from Qualifying, but I ended the weekend leading the Championship. That was one of the best weekends of my career. I was racing against drivers who I went on to race against in Formula 3 and Formula 2, so it was a high-level grid.

What is your ideal holiday destination?

It has to be somewhere in the Mediterranean – better beaches than Norfolk!

Is there anything fans wouldn't know about you?

I have two Labradors.