Tom Jackson left Snetterton with his first race victory in the Duo Formula Four championship to cap a good weekend for the young single seater racer.
Acting as the headline event, all eyes were on the young pilots as they attempt the build on their early season results with Kent racer, Tom Jackson looking to improve on his recent podium form.
With a few podium finishes to start the 2015 season off, Tom had yet to stand on the top step of the podium, but was looking to change that up in Norfolk.
Finding pace throughout the weekend’s three practice sessions, Jackson converted that pace in to a fourth place starting spot on the grid for race one, which looked to set him up for the usual podium challenges we have come accustomed to from Tom.
Unfortunately, this opportunity would not last for long as on lap two a puncture ended his chances of a strong finish. Having to pit to replace the puncture, he lost a lap to the field but knowing that the grid for the third and final race of the weekend was set on fastest laps from race one and two, he re-joined with plenty of clear track with the task of setting some quick laps in the hope of leap-frogging his rivals when it come to the end of the weekend.
This puncture would not only spoil the first race for Tom, but also put him way back on the starting grid for the second race due to the finishing position prior. As seems to be the trend this year with Formula 4, race two (run on the Sunday morning) would be run on a wet and drying race track – conditions Jackson loves, as proved by his recent wet weather form!
Since Tom found himself at the back of the grid, he personally took the risky choice to change to slick tyres just minutes before the race while the majority of the grid stayed with the wets – a risky decision with the track conditions as they were from the morning rain. From the moment the lights went out, the risk he had taken with the tyre choice become apparent as he struggled to keep pace with the rest, then with a quick spin at the start of the second lap, Jacksons choice may just had been the wrong one.
As the field started clocking off the laps, a dry line started to form very quickly and for Tom this was just what he was hoping for – The advantage of the slick tyres soon kicked in by mid race which led to Tom starting to pick his way through the back end of the field.
Each lap that passed, the track kept getting quicker an quicker, and Tom kept climbing up the running order – with the trickiest pass being on his rookie team mate, Omar Ismail no less! Before he knew it, he crossed the line to start the 10th and final lap sitting in third, just a couple seconds back from the lead Lanan Racing pairing.
After quickly disposing of Ciaran Haggerty for second, he set his sights on the leader who again was running on the wet tyre. Jackson had no doubt he was going to catch Rodrigo Fonseca, but with the track being damp and the lead car sitting on the dry patch he needed, he had his work cut out to find a way past and do it quickly in the half lap he had left!
Tucking in to the slipstream down Snetterton’s long back straight, Jackson made his move at Nelson and cleared Fonseca, leaving him just three more corners to negotiate to bring it home for his first victory in Formula 4 – he wouldn’t just cruise home, but also pull a one second gap to Fonseca in the run to the flag. The gamble paid off, Jackson took the win for the first time in his short career and in some fashion coming from the very back to the front.
With race three scheduled for the end of the day, this gave Tom plenty of time to do the rain dance in the chance of repeating the previous result. As if like magic (or some convenient forecasting) it rained just before F4’s last display, but unfortunately rained just a bit too much for any driver to even dream of gambling on slicks. With the grid being set on the race one fastest laps (due to the dry race one and damp race two), the decision to go back out in race one after the puncture, paid off as this lined him up fifth ahead of most of the field – a huge advantage in the rain in terms of visibility.
After grabbing fourth on the first lap, the lead pack would quickly spread out as they wrestled their machines in the wet which relaxed the pressure behind Tom somewhat, but left him out of reach of claiming yet another podium. Ten hard fought challenging laps later, Jackson would come home with another solid finish in fourth.
With the maiden victory and the impressive fourth in the given conditions, Tom’s championship hopes took a welcome boost as he climbed to third overall, within distance to Fonseca who currently sits second.
This would be just the first weekend at Snetterton for the Formula 4 this year as the championship goes back in mid-August supporting the British GT championship, and with a win under his belt at the track, Jackson can return with his head held high and hopefully ride this new confidence in himself to yet more podiums. But before the trip back, their next round comes from Kent’s very own, Brands Hatch. A home victory is on the cards – let’s just hope lady luck is on Tom’s side.