Here he talks to us about not always taking the expected route in life, moving to the US, his dreams of Indycar and much more… including a very unusual house guest!
Firstly congrats on completing your first US racing season….
Thanks. It’s been a really interesting year, and I’ve learned such a lot on so many levels. We’ve had an up and down season but I’ve had some cool results and shown a lot of speed at tracks I’d never driven before. I’ve certainly gained a lot of experience I can take forwards now and I’m really excited about the future.
So how did you first get in to racing?
My uncle was a go-kart racer and did some rally racing too. It was all just fun stuff for him though, never in a professional series or anything, but he’d go round to events like the Targa Tasmania. I’d go to his place and he’d have a go-kart or rally car there and it would really capture my imagination. I used to watch him racing karts, when I was like three years old and I would think, “I can do that kind of stuff one day.” My Grandpa and I would watch him racing at the local track in Melbourne, and it was a real eye opener to what I could do myself in the future. Obviously my Dad has been in to cars too, and he did some club events like time attack. My uncle is on my Mum’s side, so I got the input of cars and racing from both sides! Dad has always been supportive about making this happen and helped me get started; he’s really played a big part in my career. It’s been really good from a family point or view and great to have that influence. I’d say I was brought up in a way that racing was sort of inevitable!
When was your first race and how old were you?
My first ever race was in go-karts in December 2003, when I was eight years old. I remember it all too well… It was a heat and when I saw the last lap board I thought, “Ah sweet, that’s the end”. So I drove past it and came straight into the pits, thinking the race was finished! I was so gutted. That was a lesson hard learned – definitely know what the flags mean and read the rule book before you start doing something! Fortunately in the final I finished second, so I got a trophy and had such a fun day. I’ve still got that trophy back home in Australia. It was cool, really cool.
You obviously had a different route into motor racing than most European or US drivers, going via Asia. What was the exact route you took? How did you progress from go-karts to cars?
I had my first brief taste of driving a racing car at Phillip Island in 2010. Then through high school I did some testing in Skip Barber and some F1600 in the US. As I was finishing my last year, I did a state Formula Ford championship. It was crazy trying to balance school and racing at the same time, but as soon as high school finished the doors opened to give my racing 100%. We looked at what was going to be the best option for me, to learn and grow as a driver and move forwards, not just blindly following what everyone else was doing. We looked at what we wanted to achieve, and saw the opportunities in places like Asia which no-one around us was really looking at. It was such a great opportunity going over to race Formula BMW on Sepang, the Malaysian F1 circuit. I won that championship and got to sample some Formula Masters China events too, winning in each race weekend I did that year. It was about stepping in to full time racing, with the AsiaCup followed by FMCS and it opened so many doors for me. I’ve tested F3 and GP2 and driven Audi R8 and Lamborghini GT races. It just led in to so much.
This year we felt it was the right time to move into the US racing scene. I guess a lot of people go to USF2000 to begin the ladder system, for me though it was better to do the initial start that I had. It was a really strong springboard and I could go straight into Pro Mazda. It’s been a really cool journey, and it’s been awesome to have these experiences through the years, growing as a person as well as a driver.
What did you make of the tracks, series and competition in general over in Asia?
When you look at things like Super Formula, the high end of the Asian racing is as good as anywhere else in the world. There are a lot of steps you can take to get there through F3, Masters, and Formula BMW. So it’s different. I wouldn’t say it’s better or worse, I just think it’s different. We made it work for us, which has been really good and cost effective as well, over places like Europe. I would say the competition brings quite a diverse array of drivers too. Last year we had an Estonian, Belgians, some British guys came in, as well as some Japanese and Chinese… it was a massive mix of people. You get a deep level of quality through the field; many drivers are going on to be successful in other things too. So you get tested against some really tough drivers, and it’s exactly what you need to be improving in all areas of race craft.
Firstly congrats on completing your first US racing season….
Thanks. It’s been a really interesting year, and I’ve learned such a lot on so many levels. We’ve had an up and down season but I’ve had some cool results and shown a lot of speed at tracks I’d never driven before. I’ve certainly gained a lot of experience I can take forwards now and I’m really excited about the future.
So how did you first get in to racing?
My uncle was a go-kart racer and did some rally racing too. It was all just fun stuff for him though, never in a professional series or anything, but he’d go round to events like the Targa Tasmania. I’d go to his place and he’d have a go-kart or rally car there and it would really capture my imagination. I used to watch him racing karts, when I was like three years old and I would think, “I can do that kind of stuff one day.” My Grandpa and I would watch him racing at the local track in Melbourne, and it was a real eye opener to what I could do myself in the future. Obviously my Dad has been in to cars too, and he did some club events like time attack. My uncle is on my Mum’s side, so I got the input of cars and racing from both sides! Dad has always been supportive about making this happen and helped me get started; he’s really played a big part in my career. It’s been really good from a family point or view and great to have that influence. I’d say I was brought up in a way that racing was sort of inevitable!
When was your first race and how old were you?
My first ever race was in go-karts in December 2003, when I was eight years old. I remember it all too well… It was a heat and when I saw the last lap board I thought, “Ah sweet, that’s the end”. So I drove past it and came straight into the pits, thinking the race was finished! I was so gutted. That was a lesson hard learned – definitely know what the flags mean and read the rule book before you start doing something! Fortunately in the final I finished second, so I got a trophy and had such a fun day. I’ve still got that trophy back home in Australia. It was cool, really cool.
You obviously had a different route into motor racing than most European or US drivers, going via Asia. What was the exact route you took? How did you progress from go-karts to cars?
I had my first brief taste of driving a racing car at Phillip Island in 2010. Then through high school I did some testing in Skip Barber and some F1600 in the US. As I was finishing my last year, I did a state Formula Ford championship. It was crazy trying to balance school and racing at the same time, but as soon as high school finished the doors opened to give my racing 100%. We looked at what was going to be the best option for me, to learn and grow as a driver and move forwards, not just blindly following what everyone else was doing. We looked at what we wanted to achieve, and saw the opportunities in places like Asia which no-one around us was really looking at. It was such a great opportunity going over to race Formula BMW on Sepang, the Malaysian F1 circuit. I won that championship and got to sample some Formula Masters China events too, winning in each race weekend I did that year. It was about stepping in to full time racing, with the AsiaCup followed by FMCS and it opened so many doors for me. I’ve tested F3 and GP2 and driven Audi R8 and Lamborghini GT races. It just led in to so much.
This year we felt it was the right time to move into the US racing scene. I guess a lot of people go to USF2000 to begin the ladder system, for me though it was better to do the initial start that I had. It was a really strong springboard and I could go straight into Pro Mazda. It’s been a really cool journey, and it’s been awesome to have these experiences through the years, growing as a person as well as a driver.
What did you make of the tracks, series and competition in general over in Asia?
When you look at things like Super Formula, the high end of the Asian racing is as good as anywhere else in the world. There are a lot of steps you can take to get there through F3, Masters, and Formula BMW. So it’s different. I wouldn’t say it’s better or worse, I just think it’s different. We made it work for us, which has been really good and cost effective as well, over places like Europe. I would say the competition brings quite a diverse array of drivers too. Last year we had an Estonian, Belgians, some British guys came in, as well as some Japanese and Chinese… it was a massive mix of people. You get a deep level of quality through the field; many drivers are going on to be successful in other things too. So you get tested against some really tough drivers, and it’s exactly what you need to be improving in all areas of race craft.
Obviously you took the step to come to America this year, was that an easy decision to make? Was it the natural progression to come to Pro Mazda?
I think it was quite an easy decision; we’d looked at the Road to Indy for quite a while just because of what it was – a very reliable system that pays you in opportunities to move up the ladder. It’s very well connected to the top level and there’s a definite progression to it. So at this stage in my career we wanted to just slot in to where we needed to be in that ladder. Indycar is the goal at the moment, but I’m still open to wherever this leads, Formula E, WEC, things like that..... This system opens up so many different avenues for me. So it wasn’t really a tricky decision to make because we knew how viable it was for where I am in my career. We’re still keeping our feet in Asia too, as I have a lot history/pedigree there now. I regularly go out to catch up with teams again and keep up with things over there. It pays to keep in touch with people for future opportunities that may present themselves.
Was it an easy transition coming to the US?
I found it pretty comfortable to move out to the US actually. I think having spent time in Asia where the culture is so different from my own it almost felt like I was going home when I went to America. I go to Japan every year as I love the country and the culture so much, but it’s so different and takes effort to be able to adapt and speak to people. So going back into an English speaking country where the culture is similar you feel pretty comfortable. I kind of just feel like a citizen of the US now. I’ve been in the cities of China, and Taiwan and I’ve just got a real taste for how diverse different cultures can be. It’s cool to have had that experience as part of the job I do. One of the best parts of being a driver is that I get to race but I also get to experience the world too.
I think it was quite an easy decision; we’d looked at the Road to Indy for quite a while just because of what it was – a very reliable system that pays you in opportunities to move up the ladder. It’s very well connected to the top level and there’s a definite progression to it. So at this stage in my career we wanted to just slot in to where we needed to be in that ladder. Indycar is the goal at the moment, but I’m still open to wherever this leads, Formula E, WEC, things like that..... This system opens up so many different avenues for me. So it wasn’t really a tricky decision to make because we knew how viable it was for where I am in my career. We’re still keeping our feet in Asia too, as I have a lot history/pedigree there now. I regularly go out to catch up with teams again and keep up with things over there. It pays to keep in touch with people for future opportunities that may present themselves.
Was it an easy transition coming to the US?
I found it pretty comfortable to move out to the US actually. I think having spent time in Asia where the culture is so different from my own it almost felt like I was going home when I went to America. I go to Japan every year as I love the country and the culture so much, but it’s so different and takes effort to be able to adapt and speak to people. So going back into an English speaking country where the culture is similar you feel pretty comfortable. I kind of just feel like a citizen of the US now. I’ve been in the cities of China, and Taiwan and I’ve just got a real taste for how diverse different cultures can be. It’s cool to have had that experience as part of the job I do. One of the best parts of being a driver is that I get to race but I also get to experience the world too.
How do the Pro Mazda cars compare to what you’ve driven in the past?
The Pro Mazda car is really interesting to drive actually, as it’s so different from the other cars I’ve driven. Every car has its own style, its own raw finesse and things it does and doesn’t like. What I’ve driven in the past, from Formula Ford through BMW into the Masters car, they’ve been quite a smooth transition, in a way that it was a very natural progression. In the Pro Mazda car, the wheel base is quite a bit shorter, making it more oversteery and sensitive on the entry to corners. You have to understand that balance and adjust yourself a little bit to make the most of it, so it was a bigger adjustment from the other cars. I’d say about 80% was similar; it was just that last bit. The tyres make a big difference too, we’re really conscious to manage the tyres. It’s a good skill going forward to the future though, as you learn to manage what you have, to feel what works and then you can capitalise on that.
What about the tracks? What’s your favourite of the ones you’ve raced on this year in the US?
There are some really good tracks here in the US, and they’re different to what I have encountered. Being in Asia we did a lot of the F1 circuits, like Shanghai, Malaysia that kind of thing. The format of those tracks is very big, open and fast, and I really like those. In the US we have a lot more tight, winding tracks like Barber and Mid-Ohio, which I’m also having a lot of fun on. I think they’re some of my favourite tracks. Road America is probably more like the fast, open circuits I’m used to though. We were super quick there. I love Laguna Seca too of course; you can’t help but grin going through the corkscrew! I’ve enjoyed them all really, especially the diversity that we get out here with street courses, ovals and road circuits.
What’s been your highlight of the season?
The Pro Mazda car is really interesting to drive actually, as it’s so different from the other cars I’ve driven. Every car has its own style, its own raw finesse and things it does and doesn’t like. What I’ve driven in the past, from Formula Ford through BMW into the Masters car, they’ve been quite a smooth transition, in a way that it was a very natural progression. In the Pro Mazda car, the wheel base is quite a bit shorter, making it more oversteery and sensitive on the entry to corners. You have to understand that balance and adjust yourself a little bit to make the most of it, so it was a bigger adjustment from the other cars. I’d say about 80% was similar; it was just that last bit. The tyres make a big difference too, we’re really conscious to manage the tyres. It’s a good skill going forward to the future though, as you learn to manage what you have, to feel what works and then you can capitalise on that.
What about the tracks? What’s your favourite of the ones you’ve raced on this year in the US?
There are some really good tracks here in the US, and they’re different to what I have encountered. Being in Asia we did a lot of the F1 circuits, like Shanghai, Malaysia that kind of thing. The format of those tracks is very big, open and fast, and I really like those. In the US we have a lot more tight, winding tracks like Barber and Mid-Ohio, which I’m also having a lot of fun on. I think they’re some of my favourite tracks. Road America is probably more like the fast, open circuits I’m used to though. We were super quick there. I love Laguna Seca too of course; you can’t help but grin going through the corkscrew! I’ve enjoyed them all really, especially the diversity that we get out here with street courses, ovals and road circuits.
What’s been your highlight of the season?
I think my first podium at Indianapolis was a big highlight and will be a good memory for my lifetime. It’s such an iconic track. I’ve raced it in video games since I was really young, so driving it for real was cool enough, but to get my first podium in the US there was great. It looks pretty cool on my CV too! The oval race [at Lucas Oils Raceway], looking back, was awesome. I was so happy with how fast we were there and how well I dialled into the track.
You’ve already mentioned that you’re on the ladder system and you’re looking forward to progressing to Indycar eventually, so Indy Lights would be your goal for next year?
Yeah, our focus is to move into Indy Lights next year. I think we’re on a great level now, having had a taste of these tracks, and having had some successful results at them. It’s a good base to move into Lights; with that experience, I think we’re in a good position to progress along as a driver. I think it’ll be the perfect platform for stepping up into Indycar in the future too.
Who were your role models, in general and in racing?
I guess in general I’ve had Skrillex as an inspiration. He’s been a role model over the last few years. I like his views on life, like appreciating everything you’ve got and doing it your own way. Being comfortable with being unique in how you do things and going for what you want to do, without doubting things, or being worried about failing. It’s good to just give it all you’ve got. I get a great appreciation from how he does his profession, being a music producer, he gets to travel around and experience a lot of different cultures – and I can do a similar thing with racing. It’s about appreciating that opportunity to be able to see the world. I went into Asia when it wasn’t really a common route to take but it was working for us and Skrillex did similar things with his music. He went away from the norm, like we did at the time too
You’ve already mentioned that you’re on the ladder system and you’re looking forward to progressing to Indycar eventually, so Indy Lights would be your goal for next year?
Yeah, our focus is to move into Indy Lights next year. I think we’re on a great level now, having had a taste of these tracks, and having had some successful results at them. It’s a good base to move into Lights; with that experience, I think we’re in a good position to progress along as a driver. I think it’ll be the perfect platform for stepping up into Indycar in the future too.
Who were your role models, in general and in racing?
I guess in general I’ve had Skrillex as an inspiration. He’s been a role model over the last few years. I like his views on life, like appreciating everything you’ve got and doing it your own way. Being comfortable with being unique in how you do things and going for what you want to do, without doubting things, or being worried about failing. It’s good to just give it all you’ve got. I get a great appreciation from how he does his profession, being a music producer, he gets to travel around and experience a lot of different cultures – and I can do a similar thing with racing. It’s about appreciating that opportunity to be able to see the world. I went into Asia when it wasn’t really a common route to take but it was working for us and Skrillex did similar things with his music. He went away from the norm, like we did at the time too
With drivers, I’ve always admired Gilles Villeneuve and I actually used to race with the number 27 because of that. There isn’t a specific Australian driver I have followed, though it’s really cool what Matt Brabham has been doing. With current drivers I probably see Stoffel Van Doorne as a role model. He’s doing a lot of cool things. He’s a young guy going down the F1 path, but he’s also racing Super Formula in Japan. It’s cool that he’s doing so well at both. That’s an inspirational thing to see as a young driver trying to make it up the ladder. I don’t usually get ‘fan boy’ about people, but I really admire what he’s doing, you know, learning what he needs to in the Super Formula to be ready for F1. He’s not doing the usual path, doing it his own way and making it work, which I admire. It’s cool for me to see the result of doing things differently, like we are/have.
You were at your first Indy 500 this year, what did you make of that?
You were at your first Indy 500 this year, what did you make of that?
Yeah we got to see the 100th running of the Indy 500 which was probably the best way to get an intro into what it’s all about. It was really cool as we hung out a lot of the time with Pirtek Team Murray, who were running Matt Brabham. Having that connection with Brett Murray the team owner we got to be really closely linked to it all. We watched qualifying from the pit lane. The event was on a massive scale and it was just cool to be part of that. So many people there for one thing, to see the race and be part of the event. It was a really inspiring thing to see as a driver. That’s what I’m aiming for, and I can kind of taste it now. It feels like it’s in reach, which is great.
How have you found living in Indianapolis?
I’ve really loved it actually. It’s been cool moving out of home too. It’s not just been moving to another country, but also my first time living by myself full time. It’s been a lot of fun and I’ve been really self motivated the whole year which is great. You know training every day in PitFit and working on promotional stuff. I can enjoy all the cool stuff I like doing too, rather than having to stay focused through a school test. I couldn’t wait to get out of school, but that was because I wanted to fully focus on what I’m doing right now.
Do you have any recommendations for things to do and places to go in Indy?
There are some pretty cool areas here. The canal area is probably one of my favourite parts of Indianapolis. It’s near down town but has really nice walk ways through the city and restaurants etc. It’s close to the zoo and you can have a lot fun on Segway’s down there too! There’s a really cool vibe down there. I would definitely choose to live in that area.
One last thing I have to ask about...... The chameleon!
I’ve really loved it actually. It’s been cool moving out of home too. It’s not just been moving to another country, but also my first time living by myself full time. It’s been a lot of fun and I’ve been really self motivated the whole year which is great. You know training every day in PitFit and working on promotional stuff. I can enjoy all the cool stuff I like doing too, rather than having to stay focused through a school test. I couldn’t wait to get out of school, but that was because I wanted to fully focus on what I’m doing right now.
Do you have any recommendations for things to do and places to go in Indy?
There are some pretty cool areas here. The canal area is probably one of my favourite parts of Indianapolis. It’s near down town but has really nice walk ways through the city and restaurants etc. It’s close to the zoo and you can have a lot fun on Segway’s down there too! There’s a really cool vibe down there. I would definitely choose to live in that area.
One last thing I have to ask about...... The chameleon!
Haha yeah! It’s Kyle’s (Kaiser) actually. He’s had him for a few months now. He got him when he was really little, grey baby but he grows really quickly. He took him to a kind of boarding place while he was away, when we had a lot of back to back races. When we picked him up he’s huge and got a whole bunch of colours on him now. I actually came up with his name too. We were trying to think of one for so long, then a big truck went past our car and had diesel written on the fuel cap. So I said, “What about Diesel?” which is pretty fitting for a bunch of racing guys! He’s a very cool addition to the house. We’ve got a fake tree in the living room, so he’s just one on the boys now living in there!
Website - www.jakeparsons.net
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Twitter - @_lakeParsons
All pictures from Jake Parsons Media
Website - www.jakeparsons.net
Facebook - Jake Parsons
Twitter - @_lakeParsons
All pictures from Jake Parsons Media