Jayco revs up local motor sport

Serial supporter of local sport and charity efforts, Jayco is getting behind a new single-seater motor sport category that could unearth Australia’s next Formula 1 champion.

Jayco has signed a three year deal to be the major sponsor of the new CAMS Australian Formula 4 Championship that, unlike most high-profile motor sport, will focus on driver development rather than car development to keep costs down.

Designed for drivers aged 15 years and over, Formula 4 was created by motor sport’s world governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), as part of the newly aligned pathway from karting to Formula 1.

Jayco owner Gerry Ryan has a long history of helping young people achieve their sporting dreams, as far back as 1992 Olympic cycling champion Kathy Watts.

“Jayco is a very proud supporter of Australian sport, so when the opportunity arose to support CAMS, Australian motor sport and young Australians by becoming part of this new and exciting formula, we simply could not say no,” Ryan said.

“This is an investment in the future of Australian motor sport as the stars of tomorrow will come from this new championship. I hope that the young elite drivers who compete in the CAMS Jayco Australian Formula 4 Championship go on to do great things.

“Who knows? Maybe one of the drivers will go on to become Australian world champion like Sir Jack Brabham or Alan Jones one day, now that would be something special.”

The new open wheeler race cars promise plenty of on-track excitement, sporting lightweight carbon monocoque bodies and powered by high revving 100kW, 2.0-litre engines with six speed sequential gearboxes.

The seven-round Formula 4 championship will kick off on July 10 in Townsville and should receive significant coverage as part of the 2015 V8 Supercars coverage on free-to-air and cable television.