By his own admission Tom Jackson had an average weekend in the Ginetta Junior Championship from Snetterton last time out.
Having qualified in sixth place he could only manage seventh in race one before finishing fourth in the final race of the weekend.
Reflecting on the race weekend, he said: “Overall the weekend was an average weekend, because I was near the top in practices so I was in high spirits for qualifying, but coming sixth in qualifying really brought a downer to the weekend, then the seventh in race one made it even worse.
“However, the fourth place in the second race kind of gained some spirits back and also gained some points back for the championship.
“My performance in qualifying on Saturday wasn’t a true showing of my pace. In practice I had been going at a much quicker pace. In qualifying on my quickest lap I lost seven tenths on one corner, where as sector two and three were the quickest I’ve done.
“So those seven tenths cost me pole position. Therefore I am quite annoyed at myself because they say the reason for losing that time was because I was over driving. Which means, I’m pushing to hard that the tyres can’t withstand it, thus just scrubbing speed, off meaning that I’m losing time.”
The races slowly started to improve for the G40 racer and it came good in the second race of the weekend for him.
He added: “Finishing seventh in race one, was a huge disappointment, because it’s a very bad result for my championship hopes because it means that I have fallen down to fourth position. Also, because I got up to third position by the first corner I thought I would have had a good race, I finished up running in 4th place for most of the race but hitting a kerb in the wet unsettled the car and I spun. Then recovered into a big pack which I worked by way through slowly up to sixth but then over the line I got out dragged by another competitor.
“Fourth in the second race was a good result for me and the championship, because I have clawed back some points back to second and third in the championship.
“However, I would have been happier to finish in third where I was running on the last lap. I went for an overtake into the last corner which I pulled of well, but because I had the inside I had a bad run out of the corner and once again got out dragged over the line to finish fourth.
“Being 13 points off third is quite disappointing, because I went into the weekend third and to come out fourth obviously I’m gutted. However 13 points off third and then 17 points off second. It’s so close!
“If one of us three has one baddish result its actually has quite a big affect on my championship position. So my aim always will be get good points and increase my position up the championship ladder.”
The next round of the season heads to Knockhill and Tom is looking forward to it, even if the journey is a nightmare.
He said: “Knockhill next, corr the 10 hour journey! “lovely” as my dad says. I’m hoping that Knockhill will show the true skill of everyone. Knockhill is quite hard to do any testing, so everyone will now be in the same boat as me, so I think I will have a good chance to challenge for the win. Just because the top guys will have done a similar amount of testing to me.”
Finally we asked Tom what he got up to in the summer break since he was on track six weeks ago.
He added: “After Croft we had the six week summer break, in that time I did no test “as usual.” However, though I did go to the Silverstone F1 Grand Prix all thanks to Will Palmer, I was flown in by chopper and was there to support Jolyon Palmer in GP2 and also watch the F1.
“I’ve also had a feature on me written that will be published in Top Gear Magazine that was sort out by Ruth at Ginetta, so really excited by that. Your average 16 year old teenager doesn’t normally have a feature on them published in Top Gear.
“I’ve been on the search for sponsors and am happy to say I have become an Ambassador for David Mason London Watches and also got Autobright car care products onboard.
“Relating to my car, I just did preparation ready for the Snetterton races, spanner check, spray painting body work, cleaning wheels, engine oil change, gearbox oil change, very good clean and lots more smaller parts.”