Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter
Joel Jackson ... poised to make Jamaican motor racing history. - CONTRIBUTED
JAMAICAN KARTER Joel Jackson will become the first Jamaican driver to race Formula One when he competes in the Formula BMW series which begins on May 19.
Jackson successfully completed training in Spain and test sessions in the United States before being signed to race in the coming season of the Formula BMW U.S. series with the Gelles racing team.
The series is what is considered an entry-level programme for Formula One drivers and Jackson, who has put university studies on hold to enter the fray at the highest level, believes he can do well.
HOPING TO WIN
"I'm hoping to win obviously, but I'm expecting to be somewhere in the top five by the end of the year," said the 18-year-old who has excelled both on and off the track.
A past student of Ardenne High School where he graduated in 2005 with nine CXCs and two A Levels, he excelled even before that as one of the island's top karters.
His seven-year racing career has seen him win several races and breaking a number of track records. He was the Light Class champion in 2004 and the Rotax Max Challenge champion in 2005.
He has developed a reputation over the years for taking pole position in most of the events he enters. From a very early age he had a keen interest in motor sports and is a moderator on the popular Wheels Jamaica web-based racing forum.
With Jackson now trying to get accustomed to the big Formula One cars, he thinks there is the space for more Jamaicans to get involved in international racing.
"There are many karters out there that are just as good as myself or even better than me who can go in this direction and do well," said Jackson.
AWARE OF DIFFERENCES
Racing on a Formula One circuit is a far cry from careening around corners at the Palisadoes track in a kart and Jackson is aware of the difference.
"The training helped in terms of getting the confidence and getting used to driving a Formula One car," he said.
"In terms of the response from the car and the actual feel of the steering on the road it's similar to karting but the real big difference comes in the overall speed.
"The speeds are a lot higher and the brakes and the steering are on a power system. The next thing to get used to is the weight. Now that I'm driving a 600-kilogramme car as opposed to a 300-pound car, there is a lot of weight to get used to," he added.
The BMW race season begins on May 19 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Jackson will leave the island next month to begin pre-season warm-ups.
After the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, which takes up the first two rounds of the season, Jackson will then have to tackle six other venues and 12 rounds that will take him through to September 3.
