Tom Jackson had a solid debut season in the BRDC Formula Four as he made the move into single seaters for the first time.
Tom was pleased with his progress on and off the track during the 2014 season and he is already excited to be racing again in 2015.
Speaking about last season, Tom said: “The transition wasn’t too bad, people make out that it is difficult, there is a difference but as a racing driver you naturally adapt pretty quickly. Yes you do have to change little things to perfect the braking technique which is different from a GT to a single seater. It is more I guess getting your head round the aerodynamics and how you can use it all for your benefit, whereas in GT cars is more about working out the mechanical set-up.
“I had my good and bad days, I went into the first race weekend and knew I was really quick and qualified eighth. I knew that I had even more pace in there, I went into the first race confident that I could do well and get the reverse grid race pole position in my first race weekend.
“In the race I ended up having a DNF, which put a bit of a dampener on the weekend. I have enjoyed the highs and I have tried to ride out the lows, you have to stay positive and enjoy it when it is all going well for you.”
Tom showed what he can do when he gets the opportunity with a highest place finish of fifth place in his debut season.
He added: “It does and for one of those fifth positions I had to come from pit lane, all the way back through the field to fifth at Silverstone. That was a hard drive to take that fifth place, whereas at Oulton Park I almost inherited the positions just by staying on the track.
“I knew myself that I didn’t really deserve that one as I didn’t work hard and it wasn’t me that made those positions up. At Silverstone I was really proud of myself, as I knew that I made the gamble to come into pit lane and change tyres. I knew that I would be miles behind everyone but I might be on some quicker tyres.
“That gamble paid off and drove all the way from 20th up to fifth and nearly had fourth, with a couple more corners I would have had that fourth and in another lap maybe on the back of a possible podium. It shows that I have to be switched on as well to make the decisions to switch to slicks when everyone else is staying on wet tyres.
“Obviously I am not happy with fifth place as I want to go out there and win and get podium finishes, to get top fives in my first year of single seaters without any testing shows that I have got some pace in me that just needs to be developed in the future.”
When looking at highlights of his debut season in Formula Four the Silverstone race stood out as a highlight for Tom.
“I think that was definitely my highlight of the season and looking back in general definitely the first race weekend in the second race. I was getting purple lap times and shows that I am a capable driver, especially in mixed conditions where it is a slippery track on slick tyres that is one of my fortes.
“Coming through the field at Silverstone showed to me that I am competitive and I am really quick out there, I really enjoyed that race and it probably was my real best highlight to be honest.”
The 2014 season is at an end and Tom is already working hard behind the scenes to ensure that he is back out on the grid ready and raring to go in 2015.
He said: “I haven’t backed off at all, I have been to the gym nearly every day, I am starting off my two businesses to ensure that if there isn’t any sponsorship coming in I am doing everything that I can do to make some money to make sure I am out on the grid.
“I am also doing some instruction now, I am an ARDS instructor and work down at Brands Hatch teaching other drivers on track days, that gives me money for petrol to drive to sponsor meetings and PR events that I can put on.”
Tom hasn’t been a kart racer but in recent months he has taken part in two charity karting events with his management company Purple Parrott, and he enjoyed taking part in the events and winning the Johnny Herbert event.
He added: “I have only ever done three mini max races to then go back into the charity race, it was highly competitive with some of the best young guns from around Europe. It was very competitive and racing with them and overtaking them does show that you can learn from series such as the Ginetta juniors like I did.
“At the Johnny Herbert event and the line-up we had then we had a really good chance, I was just a bit worried that my karting CV was just those three mini max races. To have Laura Tillett and Reece Wade in my team who have raced in karting, I put some pressure on myself to not let everyone down, but I took over the kart in P1 and managed to extend our lead in our stint, so the boy done good!”
You can keep up to date with Tom on twitter by following @TJacksonR