Tom Jackson last week announced a new sponsorship deal with Advance FM for the 2014 season, and it shows the young driver is on the up.

Where he will be racing in 2014 is still a bit of a mystery at the moment but in 2013 he competed in the Ginetta Junior Championships.

Kent Sports News caught up with Tom to get his exclusive thoughts on last season, as he starts to turn his attention to the future.

He said: “Finishing in second place in the final round of the season, is a great way to sign off the season as well as my Ginetta Junior time, as I will be too old to compete in it next year.

“I was happy to get that podium, however I felt that I had under-achieved in that race and had the capability of winning. I was just held up too much by someone however after passing them in one laps time I had achieved a 4 second gap over him. It just shows what I could have done if I hadn’t had a poor start and lost a couple of positions at the start.

“Throughout the season I have had some very consistent finishes with 14 top five finishes this year. However, I would have had some better finishes and possible wins, if other drivers had the same sportsmanship and clean driving approach to the races as me. Instead of just pushing you off the track to get past or pushing you off if you overtake them, resulting in me having a poor championship position where I feel I could of finished second in the championship.

“There was some very bad calls by officials, sometimes no calls were made which had a big effect on things. Poor checking of rulings with very lenient checks, which had a major effect on the fairness of the racing this season. Saying that, I think I have proven to people that even with these set backs, I will always go out and try to give everything I can get out of the car.”

Looking back and reflecting on the season Tom can see clearly that there have been a lot of positives and improvements made.

He added: “Since finishing the season and looking back on my performance, I have noticed that my race craft has majorly improved from last year and the whole way that I approach a weekend leading up to it with my water consumption and preparation has really helped my season’s racing.

“Plus something out of the car that I have developed is working on the media side of it, so interviews, press coverage all to get your name out there is vital not just for yourself but also for sponsors.

“The major thing that I have learnt this season and that will benefit me in years racing is the confidence racing in the rain when you cannot see anything and just go on brake lights and instinct. Another benefit of racing in the wet on road tyres has given me the confidence to push harder on actual racing wets in other series I race in.”

Tom and his dad have raced and run his Ginetta throughout the season and that has meant no end of late nights and time in the garage.

“With me and my dad running my car, it has meant a lot of late nights at the workshop underneath the car just working on it. So I do owe him a lot, not just because he’s paid for my racing but the time and effort that he’s had to take out of his work so, its un-doubtable that I owe him for everything that he has given me, which has allowed me to show my talent on a large platform. However though it’s not all him, in the end of the day I have to get in the car, I know how to take parts off the car, repairs parts and maintain it. Getting sponsors and companies on board I have all done myself because my Dad is too busy at work.”

The season is now over and Tom admits that he is looking forward to the future and that he hasn’t just put his feet-up waiting for 2014 and a new adventure to begin.

He said: “Since finishing the season, I have already been back out in my G40 around Brands Hatch to take out family and some sponsors before I sold it. It was quite upsetting that I would never drive that car again, but for something new to start the old must end. I think my dad is enjoying time off from racing at the weekends and the physical labour however though he told me the other day in a sort of way he is going to miss it.

“I just cant wait to get in any race car and don’t want to keep waiting, like last season I was out of the car for five months which is a long time to not be racing. I have already done a test in the British GT4 championship winning car Ginetta G50 GT4, and I have most recently been out in a BRDC F4 for a day around Brands Hatch – which was almost like karting again (similar driving style) but a lot quicker.

“We are not far off the beginning of the 2014 season, my main aim is to be competing in the BRDC F4 championship next year, with a front running team that can provide me with the experience and knowledge that can provide me with a race winning car and a team drive showing that they are fully dedicated to getting me to the line first.

“However, that comes at a price, over the winter I have been talking with potential sponsors. I am working with a local company that have not just given me sponsorship from their company but also become part of their sports management, where they will be looking for sponsors/investors for me, whilst I am also contacting sponsors myself.

“Then I’ve also got my fitness training that I am very dedicated to, which I feel definitely gives me a advantage over my competitors who are not as physically fit. Another thing that I am looking at starting to work on is my mental approach to the race weekends.”