Motorsport:
Step up the ladder goes well for King

FOLLOWING on from his excellent 2013 campaign, Jordan King gave an excellent account of himself in a trio of testing outings further up the motor racing ladder, as he outperformed a good many championship regulars with considerably more experience than him.

The Stoneleigh ace clinched the prestigious British Formula Three International Series crown at his first attempt earlier this year and placed a superb sixth overall and comfortably top rookie in the fiercely-contested FIA Formula 3 European Championship.

King has taken advantage of the last few weeks to try out three different cars that could play a part in his future as he speeds towards his ultimate goal of Formula 1.

He first ensconced himself inside the cockpit of a Carlin-prepared, 530bhp World Series by Renault single-seater at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya. Although his track time was restricted by technical woes, he nevertheless lapped an eminently respectable 15th-fastest amongst the 26 contenders.

Next up were the official GP3 Series and GP2 Series tests at Yas Marina Circuit - the spectacular setting for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Initially sampling Status Grand Prix’s 175mph GP3 machine, the McLaren Autosport Award finalist lapped consistently inside the top 20 as he simultaneously got to grips with the car and track layout. The team’s commercial director Tim Scott was palpably impressed with King’s aptitude and approach.

“Where Jordan ended up in the lap times belied how well he did,” he remarked.

“Learning a new car, tyre and circuit in just 30 laps is a tall order and his progression was really good. He was a pleasure to work with, very professional and with a good technical understanding. He would do very well in the series.”

Turning it up another notch again the following day, King’s trio of tests culminated in GP2 - F1’s antechamber - and as he traded 400bhp for 612bhp and a jaw-dropping 0-60mph time of less than three seconds, the speedster saved his finest form until last.

Driving for former title-winners Barwa Addax and up against rivals of the calibre of 2013 championship runner-up Sam Bird, McLaren protégé and reigning World Series vice-champion Stoffel Vandoorne, FIA Formula 3 European Champion Raffaelle Marciello and GP3 race-winner Tio Ellinas, King completed the first day inside the top half of the 26-strong field and ahead of some very big-hitters indeed. His tremendous progress continued on day two, as the 19-year-old lapped fastest of all to begin with and remained inside the top five for the majority of the afternoon.

He concluded proceedings with the tenth-quickest time in the floodlit evening session, barely three-quarters-of-a-second adrift of the outright benchmark around a long, 110-second lap and in front of the likes of GP3 race-winner Conor Daly, World Series podium-finishers Will Stevens and Jazeman Jaafar and former GP2 race-winner Dani Clos, who had taken the chequered flag as runner-up in the 2013 season finale around the same circuit only the previous weekend.

“We made several changes to the GP3 car, but I struggled to find a set-up that I was comfortable with and that meant I wasn’t able to get the best out of the new tyres,” King confessed.

“There was a lot to take in over the course of just a single day and it was a big learning curve - there was definitely potential to go faster.

“I felt better-prepared going into the GP2 test as I knew the circuit by that point and I really enjoyed the car - balance-wise, it felt the closest of any of them to F3, although with its extra downforce and carbon brakes, it was a lot quicker down the straights and definitely the most powerful single-seater I’ve ever driven.”

Whilst his more immediate sights are set on a return to the FIA Formula 3 European Championship and a concerted title tilt in 2014, King admitted that his exploratory testing outings had certainly offered him an enticing and eye-opening glimpse of what may follow.

“Overall it was a great experience and a really beneficial few days,” he said.

“I had the opportunity to work with three excellent teams and it was interesting to note the differences in the way they operate - it opens up your mind.

“It gave me a real heads-up for the future and a solid understanding of where I need to be and what I need to be aiming for - I know what I’m working towards now.”

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